Director of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Director of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Incumbent
Todd Lyons
Acting 
since March 9, 2025
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Reports toUnited States Secretary of Homeland Security
Seat500 12th Street SW
Washington, D.C., U.S.
AppointerThe president
with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument6 U.S.C. § 113
FormationMarch 11, 2003 (2003-03-11)
Prior to July 2010 titled Assistant Secretary
DeputyDeputy Director
Websitewww.ice.gov

The director of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a civilian official in the United States Department of Homeland Security. During July 2010 the position's title was changed from Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

The director is in charge of the day-to-day operations of more than 7000 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents that are the primary investigative component of ICE and 6000 enforcement and removal operations officers (ERO).[1] ICE is an agency with the United States Department of Homeland Security and the director reports to the United States secretary of homeland security and the United States deputy secretary of homeland security.

This position requires Senate confirmation, though an acting director is permitted, and the agency has not had a confirmed director since January 20, 2017. The current acting director is Todd Lyons.

Overview

The director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the chief administrator with enforcement of US immigration laws and criminal investigations of transnational criminal organizations. This mission is executed through the enforcement of more than 400 federal statutes and focuses on immigration enforcement, preventing terrorism and combating the illegal movement of people and goods.[2]

Officeholders

†- Indicates title of office upon appointment was Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement

No. Portrait Deputy secretary Took office Left office Time in office Party President
1
Michael J. Garcia†[3]
Garcia, MichaelMichael J. Garcia†[3]
(born 1961)		March 11, 2003September 5, 20052 years, 178 daysRepublicanBush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R)
-
John P. Clark†[3]
Clark, John P.John P. Clark†[3]
Acting		September 6, 2005January 3, 2006119 daysIndependentBush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R)
2
Julie Myers†[3]
Myers, JulieJulie Myers†[3]
(born 1969)		January 4, 2006November 14, 20082 years, 315 daysRepublicanBush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R)
-
John P. Torres†[4]
Torres, John P.John P. Torres†[4]
Acting		November 17, 2008May 12, 2009176 daysIndependentBush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R)
Barack Obama (D)
3
John T. Morton†[5]
Morton, John T.John T. Morton†[5]
(born 1966)		May 12, 2009July 31, 20134 years, 111 daysIndependentObama, BarackBarack Obama (D)
-
John Sandweg[6]
Sandweg, JohnJohn Sandweg[6]
(born 1975)
Acting		August 1, 2013February 21, 2014229 daysDemocraticObama, BarackBarack Obama (D)
-
Thomas S. Winkowski[7]
Winkowski, ThomasThomas S. Winkowski[7]
(born 1954)
Acting		March 16, 2014December 23, 2014282 daysIndependentObama, BarackBarack Obama (D)
4
Sarah Saldaña[8]
Saldaña, SarahSarah Saldaña[8]
(born 1951)		December 23, 2014January 20, 20172 years, 28 daysIndependentObama, BarackBarack Obama (D)
-
Daniel Ragsdale[9]
Ragsdale, DanielDaniel Ragsdale[9]
Acting		January 20, 2017January 30, 201710 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Tom Homan[10]
Homan, ThomasTom Homan[10]
(born 1961)
Acting		January 30, 2017June 29, 20181 year, 150 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Ronald Vitiello[11]
Vitiello, RonaldRonald Vitiello[11]
(born 1963)
Acting		June 30, 2018April 12, 2019256 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Matthew Albence[12]
Albence, MatthewMatthew Albence[12]
Acting		April 13, 2019May 27, 201944 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Mark A. Morgan[13]
Morgan, Mark A.Mark A. Morgan[13]
(born 1965/1966)
Acting		May 28, 2019July 5, 201938 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Matthew Albence[12]
Albence, MatthewMatthew Albence[12]
Acting		July 5, 2019August 25, 20201 year, 51 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Tony Pham[14]
Pham, TonyTony Pham[14]
(born 1973)
Acting		August 25, 2020December 31, 2020128 daysRepublicanTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Jonathan Fahey[15]
Fahey, JonathanJonathan Fahey[15]
Acting		December 31, 2020January 13, 202113 daysRepublicanTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Tae Johnson
Johnson, TaeTae Johnson
Acting		January 13, 2021July 4, 20232 years, 172 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
Joe Biden (D)
-
Patrick Lechleitner
Lechleitner, PatrickPatrick Lechleitner
Acting		July 4, 2023January 20, 20251 year, 200 daysIndependentBiden, JoeJoe Biden (D)
-
Caleb Vitello
Vitello, CalebCaleb Vitello
Acting		January 20, 2025February 21, 202532 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
-
Todd Lyons[16]
Lyons, ToddTodd Lyons[16]
Acting		March 9, 2025Incumbent344 daysIndependentTrump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Enforcement and Removal Operations". www.ice.gov. April 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "What We Do | ICE". U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement. Department of Homeland Security. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Senior Leadership The First Five Years: 2003 – 2008". April 20, 2021.
  4. ^ Meserve, Jeanne (November 6, 2008). "Bush immigration chief resigns". cnn.com. Washington DC. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "John Morton to Lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Secretary Napolitano Names Esther Olavarria as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy". www.dhs.gov. February 23, 2009.
  6. ^ North, David (August 13, 2013). "A New Immigration Policy Maker — John Sandweg, Acting Head of ICE". cis.org.
  7. ^ "Thomas S. Winkowski". www.dhs.gov. May 12, 2014.
  8. ^ "Sarah Saldaña(archived)". www.dhs.gov. May 12, 2014. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015.
  9. ^ Darrough, Celia (January 31, 2017). "Who Is Daniel Ragsdale? Donald Trump Replaced The Immigration & Customs Enforcement Director, Too". Bustle. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  10. ^ Chamberlain, Samuel (January 31, 2017). "Trump Names Thomas Homan Acting Director of ICE". Fox News. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  11. ^ "Secretary Nielsen Announces Ronald D. Vitiello to Serve as Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement". Department of Homeland Security. June 30, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Statement from Acting Secretary Wolf on the Retirement of Matthew T. Albence". www.dhs.gov. July 31, 2020.
  13. ^ Sands, Geneva; Kelly, Caroline (May 28, 2019). "Mark Morgan takes over as acting director of ICE". CNN.com. CNN. Retrieved June 15, 2019. Mark Morgan, who President Donald Trump announced earlier this month would lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement, took over as acting director of the agency on Tuesday, according to an announcement by acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan.
  14. ^ Camilo Montoya-Galvez (August 25, 2020). "Tony Pham, former refugee, prosecutor and jail supervisor, tapped to lead ICE". CBS News.
  15. ^ "Trump administration taps criminal prosecutor to run ICE". Washington Examiner. December 31, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Secretary Kristi Noem Announces Expanded Leadership to Revamp ICE | Homeland Security". www.dhs.gov. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
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