WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday said that he withdrew his nominee to run Immigration and Customs Enforcement because he wanted the agency to go in a “tougher” direction, a surprise decision ahead of the president’s trip to the United States southern border.

Ronald D. Vitiello, who was nominated last summer by Mr. Trump to run ICE, the agency that arrests, detains and deports people who are in the United States illegally, has been serving as the agency’s acting director since June last year. He had planned to accompany the president on his trip to California but was left behind.

“Ron’s a good man, but we’re going in a tougher direction,” Mr. Trump said to reporters as he left the White House en route to Calexico, Calif.

Mr. Vitiello did not respond to a request for comment. Mr. Vitiello’s nomination had been awaiting approval by a second Senate committee and confirmation by the full chamber.

The president’s abrupt decision came at a time when his administration considers the United States border with Mexico to be in crisis because of the flow of people trying to get into the country, making it a priority to have a confirmed appointee leading the agency to carry out the administration’s policies. But some senators, including Republicans, had concerns that Mr. Vitiello was not the right person for this job.

Mr. Trump, who has continued to push for stronger deportation rules, had also expressed concern about whether a career civil servant, like Mr. Vitiello, would be up to the task. ICE has been led by acting directors since the Obama administration ended in January 2017.

Mr. Trump has declared a national emergency in order to use government money to construct a physical barrier along parts of the border, an initiative Congress has refused to fund. And last week, Mr. Trump threatened to close the southern border to stop the flow of people trying to enter from Mexico — a threat he withdrew on Thursday because of what he said were Mexico’s large apprehensions of migrants on its southern border with Guatemala.

The request to withdraw Mr. Vitiello’s nomination, which was sent to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee late Thursday, came as a surprise to committee aides and led some in the Homeland Security Department to question whether the letter was sent in error.

Mr. Vitiello was named to replace Thomas D. Homan, who had been serving as the agency’s acting director during Mr. Trump’s first months in office. Mr. Homan retired in June.

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