Latest Moves

February 2020: Vitiello Named To Board Of Advisors For Dignari. “Dignari announced today that former CBP and ICE leader Ronald D. Vitiello will join its board of advisors to advance the company’s strategic vision for growth. Vitiello served 34 years of government service within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Border Patrol. He also served as Acting Director of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.” [Dignari press release, 5/28/20; Dignari – Ronald Vitiello, accessed 11/9/20]

Dignari Is A National Defense And Security Tech Contractor. “Dignari is a woman-owned small business located in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, serving national security and defense agencies within the U.S. government. Dignari provides, biometrics, identify management, emerging technologies and data analytics solutions for their clients.” [Dignari press release, 5/28/20]

Vitiello Reported That He Secured A Business License And Was In Conversations With Former Colleagues And Companies About Consulting Work. “Vitiello spoke in a matter-of-fact tone about how he “went out and got a business license” in the spring. He said he is in conversations with former colleagues and companies about consulting work. He is also an occasional guest on Fox News, which recently brought him back onto Trump’s radar.” [Washington Examiner, 8/30/19]

Recent News

January 2020: Vitiello, On Zero Tolerance As Deterrent: “We Knew That It Was Going To Be A Benefit To Us.” ““It aligned with my experience, in the times where we applied a consequence to people who cross the border illegally, we got less of them crossing the border illegally,” Ronald Vitiello, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), tells FRONTLINE. “And so when zero tolerance is discussed as a way forward, we knew that it was going to be a benefit to us.”” [FRONTLINE, 1/7/20]

Headline: CNN: “Former acting ICE chief defends administration response to border crisis.” [CNN, 7/3/19]

Headline: Washington Post: “Trump’s nominee to lead ICE won’t rule out separating migrant families again.” [Washington Post, 11/15/18]

Vitiello In August 2018: “We Supported What The President Did.” Asked in an August 2018 interview with Neil Cavuto if he supported the family separation policy, Vitiello said, “We supported what the president did, which was re-calibrate where we were.” [Fox News, 8/20/18]

Vitiello Did Not Say Whether He Agreed With Pediatricians That Long-Term Detention Was Harmful To Minors. “Senator Maggie Hassan, Democrat of New Hampshire, pressed Mr. Vitiello on the detention of migrant children, asking if he agreed with a report by the American Academy of Pediatrics that found that long-term detention physically and emotionally harmed minors. ‘Do you agree with pediatricians?’ Ms. Hassan said. ‘Do you accept that long-term detention of children is detrimental?’ ‘I understand the report, yes,’ answered Mr. Vitiello, who was the acting deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection when the zero-tolerance policy was put in place. He did not say whether he agreed with the report’s findings.” [New York Times, 11/15/18]