The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed Rodney Scott as the head of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Homeland Security’s largest enforcement agency with roughly 65,000 personnel. Scott, who previously served as Border Patrol Chief, was approved in a 51-46 party-line vote, with all Republicans supporting him and all Democrats opposing.
CBP is divided into two main branches: the Border Patrol, which oversees security between ports of entry, and the Office of Field Operations (OFO), which manages security at official entry points. Scott was previously forced out of his role as Border Patrol Chief under the Biden administration after resisting politically motivated messaging changes at the agency. In 2021, he opposed a directive to replace the term “illegal alien” with “undocumented immigrant,” arguing in an internal memo that such language could erode public trust and compromise the agency’s apolitical stance.
After retiring from the Border Patrol in August 2021, Scott continued advocating for stricter border security policies, including support for programs such as Remain in Mexico, Safe Third Country agreements, and the construction of the border wall. He also joined the Texas Public Policy Foundation as a Distinguished Senior Fellow for Border Security, appearing frequently before Congress and the media to promote immigration enforcement measures.
