Ahead of his inauguration in January, President-elect Donald Trump has named two officials to spearhead his proposed overhaul of the U.S. immigration system, with a focus on the deportation of illegal immigrants.

On Thursday, Mr Trump, in a social media post, named Rodney S. Scott, a veteran border official who served as the Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol under Trump’s first term, to lead Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

In pursuit of Mr Trump’s campaign promise to carry out mass deportation of illegal immigrants, Mr Scott will head the agency which oversees the border patrol and U.S. border security operations.

Mr Trump praised Scott for his role in implementing key policies during his previous term, adding, “After retiring, Rodney has continued to educate politicians and the public about the importance of meaningful border security.”

In addition to Mr Scott’s nomination, Mr Trump also announced Caleb Vitello, a longtime official with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as the agency’s acting head. 

The ICE handles the detention, deportation, and removal of individuals who are in the U.S. unlawfully.

“Caleb’s exceptional leadership, extensive experience, and commitment to ICE’s mission make him an excellent choice to implement my efforts to enhance the safety and security of American communities,” Mr Trump said.