U.S. immigration officers' union opposes Trump pick to lead key agency

FILE PHOTO: Acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) Ronald Vitiello at ICE headquarters in Washington, U.S., July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A union representing U.S. immigration and customs agents urged the Senate on Tuesday to block confirmation of President Donald Trump's nominee to head the immigration enforcement agency, citing past racially tinged and controversial comments.

The National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council, which represents more than 7,000 agents, endorsed Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. But it opposes the Republican president's nomination of Ronald Vitiello to head the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.