U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Created in 2003 as part of the government’s response to the September 11 attacks, ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws, combating transnational crime, and securing the nation’s borders. The agency has been led by a series of directors and acting directors over the past two decades, each shaping its policies and priorities under different presidential administrations.
Overview of ICE
- Formed: March 11, 2003
- Headquarters: 500 12th Street SW, Washington, D.C.
- Employees: Over 20,000
- Annual Budget: Nearly $10 billion
- Website: ice.gov
Parent Agency: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Directors and Acting Directors (2003–Present)
1. Michael J. Garcia (2003–2005)
- Title: Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Term: March 11, 2003 – September 5, 2005 (2 years, 178 days)
- Appointed by: President George W. Bush (R)
- Background: Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; later became a judge
- Notable: First-ever leader of ICE; established the agency’s foundational structure after its creation from the former INS
2. John P. Clark (Acting, 2005–2006)
- Title: Acting Assistant Secretary
- Term: September 6, 2005 – January 3, 2006 (119 days)
- Appointed by: President George W. Bush (R)
- Notable: Served as interim leader during the transition between confirmed directors
3. Julie Myers (2006–2008)
- Title: Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Term: January 4, 2006 – November 14, 2008 (2 years, 315 days)
- Appointed by: President George W. Bush (R)
- Background: Former Assistant Secretary at DHS; previously worked at the Department of Justice
- Notable: Oversaw significant expansion of workplace enforcement operations and the 2006 immigration raids
4. John P. Torres (Acting, 2008–2009)
- Title: Acting Assistant Secretary
- Term: November 17, 2008 – May 12, 2009 (176 days)
- Appointed by: Presidents George W. Bush / Barack Obama
- Notable: Managed the transition between presidential administrations
5. John T. Morton (2009–2013)
- Title: Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (until July 2010), then Director
- Term: May 12, 2009 – July 31, 2013 (4 years, 111 days)
- Appointed by: President Barack Obama (D)
- Background: Former federal prosecutor; served as Counselor to the Attorney General
- Notable: Longest-serving confirmed director; implemented the Secure Communities program and prioritized criminal alien enforcement; oversaw a dramatic increase in deportations
6. John Sandweg (Acting, 2013–2014)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: August 1, 2013 – February 21, 2014 (229 days)
- Appointed by: President Barack Obama (D)
- Background: Former ICE General Counsel
- Notable: Managed day-to-day operations during a period of leadership transition
7. Thomas S. Winkowski (Acting, 2014)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: March 16, 2014 – December 23, 2014 (282 days)
- Appointed by: President Barack Obama (D)
- Background: Career customs and border protection official
- Notable: Oversaw ICE during the 2014 unaccompanied minor crisis at the southern border
8. Sarah Saldaña (2014–2017)
- Title: Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Term: December 23, 2014 – January 20, 2017 (2 years, 28 days)
- Appointed by: President Barack Obama (D)
- Background: Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas — first Hispanic woman to hold that position
- Notable: Last confirmed ICE director to be Senate-confirmed; oversaw implementation of the Priority Enforcement Program (PEP); focused enforcement on national security and public safety threats
9. Daniel Ragsdale (Acting, 2017)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: January 20, 2017 – January 30, 2017 (10 days)
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Notable: Briefest acting director tenure; served only 10 days before being replaced
10. Thomas “Tom” Homan (Acting, 2017–2018)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: January 30, 2017 – June 29, 2018 (1 year, 150 days)
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Background: Career ICE official; former ERO field office director
- Notable: Oversaw the implementation of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, including expanded interior enforcement and the “zero tolerance” policy that led to family separations at the border
11. Ronald Vitiello (Acting, 2018–2019)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: June 30, 2018 – April 12, 2019 (256 days)
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Background: Former Chief of U.S. Border Patrol
- Notable: Continued aggressive enforcement posture; later nominated for CBP Commissioner
12. Matthew Albence (Acting, 2019)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: April 13, 2019 – May 27, 2019 (44 days)
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Notable: Brief tenure before being replaced by Mark Morgan
13. Mark A. Morgan (Acting, 2019)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: May 28, 2019 – July 5, 2019 (38 days)
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Background: Former Chief of U.S. Border Patrol
- Notable: Very brief tenure; later became CBP Acting Commissioner
14. Matthew Albence (Acting, 2019–2020)
- Title: Acting Director (second stint)
- Term: July 6, 2019 – February 20, 2020 (229 days)
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Notable: Oversaw ICE during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued interior enforcement operations
15. Tony Pham (Acting, 2020–2021)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: February 21, 2020 – December 31, 2021 (1 year, 313 days)
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Background: Former ICE Principal Legal Advisor
- Notable: Managed ICE operations through the COVID-19 pandemic; oversaw Operation Legend and continued enforcement during the final year of the Trump administration
16. Tae Johnson (Acting, 2021–2023)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: January 1, 2022 – June 24, 2023 (1 year, 174 days)
- Appointed by: President Joe Biden (D)
- Background: Career ICE official; former Deputy Director
- Notable: Oversaw the transition to the Biden administration’s enforcement priorities, which focused on serious criminals and national security threats rather than broad interior enforcement
17. Patrick Lechleitner (Acting, 2023–2024)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: June 25, 2023 – January 20, 2025 (1 year, 209 days)
- Appointed by: President Joe Biden (D)
- Background: Career ICE official; former Principal Legal Advisor
- Notable: Managed ICE during a period of record border crossings and intense political debate over immigration enforcement
18. Caleb Vitello (Acting, 2025)
- Title: Acting Director
- Term: January 20, 2025 – May 31, 2025 (131 days)
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Notable: Oversaw the initial phase of the second Trump administration’s immigration enforcement expansion
19. David J. Venturella (Acting, 2026–Present)
- Title: Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director
- Term: June 1, 2026 – Present
- Appointed by: President Donald Trump (R)
- Background: Career immigration official who began with the former INS in 1986; previously served as ICE Assistant Director for Detention and Removal Operations; later Senior Vice President at GEO Group (private prison company)
- Notable: Returned to ICE after a decade in the private sector; oversees the agency during a period of expanded enforcement and detention operations
Key Notes
- Senate Confirmation: ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since Sarah Saldaña left office on January 20, 2017. All leaders since then have served in an acting capacity.
- Title Change: The position was originally titled “Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement” until July 2010, when it was renamed “Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
- Political Divide: ICE leadership and enforcement priorities have shifted significantly between administrations, with Republican presidents generally favoring broader interior enforcement and Democratic presidents focusing on criminal aliens and national security threats.
- Acting Directors: Of the 19 leaders listed above, only 5 were Senate-confirmed (Garcia, Myers, Morton, Saldaña, and the position has been vacant of confirmed leadership for over 9 years).
ICE Facilities in New York
ICE operates and contracts with numerous detention facilities across New York State. For a comprehensive list of these facilities, see our Detention Facilities in New York post.
For authoritative information about ICE leadership and history, visit ice.gov and the Wikipedia page on ICE Directors.
CONTACT US
For more information or to visit us, here are our branch addresses:
- Branch 1: Naungayan Building, Aala Road, Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City, Davao Del Norte
- Branch 2: Sobrecary Street (In front of Velox Gas Station), Tagum City, Davao Del Norte
- Email: gracezelguerra22@gmail.com
- Phone: 09460480491
- Business Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PH Time)
- Facebook Page: Visit our Facebook Page