Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
{{Short description|Government Official}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Director
| body = the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
| insignia = Logo of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.svg
| insigniasize = 150
| insigniacaption =
| flag =
| flagsize =
| flagcaption =
| incumbent = Todd Lyons
| incumbentsince = March 9, 2025
| acting =
| department = U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
| reports_to = United States Secretary of Homeland Security
| seat = 500 12th Street SW
Washington, D.C., U.S.
| appointer = The president
| appointer_qualified = with Senate advice and consent
| termlength =
| first =
| formation = {{Start date and age|2003|3|11}}
Prior to July 2010 titled Assistant Secretary
| deputy = Deputy Director
| constituting_instrument = {{UnitedStatesCode|6|113}}
| website = {{url|https://www.ice.gov/}}
| image = Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd M. Lyons.jpg
}}
The director of the U.S. 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 Agents (HSI) that are the primary investigative component of ICE and 6000 enforcement and removal operations officers (ERO).{{cite web|date=April 20, 2021|title=Enforcement and Removal Operations|url=https://www.ice.gov/about-ice/ero|publisher=www.ice.gov}} 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 {{As of|2017|01|20|since=y|lc=on|df=US}}.
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.{{cite web |title=What We Do {{!}} ICE |url=https://www.ice.gov/overview |website=U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement |publisher=Department of Homeland Security |access-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604010102/https://www.ice.gov/overview |url-status=dead }}
Officeholders
†- Indicates title of office upon appointment was Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder = y
| showimage = y
| officeholder_title = Deputy Secretary
| showtermlenght = y
| showcoalition = n
| showelection = n
| party_col = 1
| showaltofficeholder = y
| alt_officeholder_title = President
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 1
| image = Michael J. Garcia - official portrait.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Michael J. Garcia†{{cite web|date=April 20, 2021|title=Senior Leadership The First Five Years: 2003 – 2008|url=https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=37028v}}
| officeholder_sort = Garcia, Michael
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1961
| died_year =
| term_start = March 11, 2003
| term_end = September 5, 2005
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2003|03|11|2005|09|05}}
| alt_party = Republican Party (United States)
| alt_officeholder = George W. Bush
| alt_officeholder_sort = Bush, George
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = John P. Clark.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = John P. Clark†{{cite web|date=April 20, 2021|title=Senior Leadership The First Five Years: 2003 – 2008|url=https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=37028v}}
| officeholder_sort = Clark, John P.
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = September 6, 2005
| term_end = January 3, 2006
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2005|09|06|2006|01|03}}
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| acting = y
| alt_officeholder = George W. Bush
| alt_officeholder_sort = Bush, George
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 2
| image = Julie myers lg.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Julie Myers†{{cite web|date=April 20, 2021|title=Senior Leadership The First Five Years: 2003 – 2008|url=https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=37028v}}
| officeholder_sort = Myers, Julie
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1969
| died_year =
| term_start = January 4, 2006
| term_end = November 14, 2008
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2006|01|04|2008|11|14}}
| alt_party = Republican Party (United States)
| alt_officeholder = George W. Bush
| alt_officeholder_sort = Bush, George
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = John torres lg.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = John P. Torres†{{cite news |last=Meserve |first=Jeanne |date=November 6, 2008 |title=Bush immigration chief resigns |url=https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/06/dhs.myers.resignation/index.html |work=cnn.com |location=Washington DC |access-date=April 20, 2019}}
| officeholder_sort = Torres, John P.
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = November 17, 2008
| term_end = May 12, 2009
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2008|11|17|2009|05|12}}
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| acting = y
| alt_officeholder = George W. Bush
| alt_officeholder_sort = Bush, George
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
| alt_officeholder2 = Barack Obama
| alt_officeholder2_sort = Obama, Barack
| alt_officeholder2_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 3
| image = John t. morton ice director.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = John T. Morton†{{cite web|date=February 23, 2009|title=John Morton to Lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Secretary Napolitano Names Esther Olavarria as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy|url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2009/02/23/president-nominate-john-morton-be-ice-assistant-secretary-napolitano-names-esthero|publisher=www.dhs.gov}}
| officeholder_sort = Morton, John T.
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1966
| died_year =
| term_start = May 12, 2009
| term_end = July 31, 2013
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2009|05|12|2013|08|31}}
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Barack Obama
| alt_officeholder_sort = Obama, Barack
| alt_officeholder_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = John Sandweg profile.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = John Sandweg{{cite web|date=August 13, 2013|title=A New Immigration Policy Maker — John Sandweg, Acting Head of ICE|url=https://cis.org/North/New-Immigration-Policy-Maker-John-Sandweg-Acting-Head-ICE|publisher=cis.org |last1=North |first1=David }}
| officeholder_sort = Sandweg, John
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1975
| died_year =
| term_start = August 1, 2013
| term_end = February 21, 2014
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2013|07|07|2014|02|21}}
| alt_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Barack Obama
| alt_officeholder_sort = Obama, Barack
| alt_officeholder_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| acting = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Thomas-winkowski-md.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Thomas S. Winkowski{{cite web|date=May 12, 2014|title=Thomas S. Winkowski|url=https://www.dhs.gov/archive/person/thomas-s-winkowski|publisher=www.dhs.gov}}
| officeholder_sort = Winkowski, Thomas
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1954
| died_year =
| term_start = March 16, 2014
| term_end = December 23, 2014
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|03|16|2014|12|23}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Barack Obama
| alt_officeholder_sort = Obama, Barack
| alt_officeholder_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = 4
| image = Saldana.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Sarah Saldaña{{cite web|date=May 12, 2014|title=Sarah Saldaña(archived) |url=https://www.ice.gov/leadership |publisher=www.dhs.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316202302/https://www.ice.gov/leadership |archive-date=2015-03-16 }}
| officeholder_sort = Saldaña, Sarah
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1951
| died_year =
| term_start = December 23, 2014
| term_end = January 20, 2017
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|12|23|2017|01|20}}
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Barack Obama
| alt_officeholder_sort = Obama, Barack
| alt_officeholder_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = DanRagsdale1.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Daniel Ragsdale{{cite web|last1=Darrough|first1=Celia|title=Who Is Daniel Ragsdale? Donald Trump Replaced The Immigration & Customs Enforcement Director, Too|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-daniel-ragsdale-donald-trump-replaced-the-immigration-customs-enforcement-director-too-34290|website=Bustle|date=31 January 2017 |access-date=January 31, 2017}}
| officeholder_sort = Ragsdale, Daniel
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = January 20, 2017
| term_end = January 30, 2017
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2017|01|20|2017|01|30}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Thomas D. Homan.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Tom Homan{{cite web|last1=Chamberlain|first1=Samuel |title=Trump Names Thomas Homan Acting Director of ICE|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-names-thomas-homan-acting-director-of-ice/|date=January 31, 2017|publisher=Fox News|access-date=June 29, 2017}}
| officeholder_sort = Homan, Thomas
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = January 30, 2017
| term_end = June 29, 2018
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2017|01|30|2018|06|29}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Ronald Vitiello official photo.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Ronald Vitiello{{Cite news |url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2018/06/30/secretary-nielsen-announces-ronald-d-vitiello-serve-acting-director-us-immigration |title=Secretary Nielsen Announces Ronald D. Vitiello to Serve as Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement |date=June 30, 2018|work=Department of Homeland Security|access-date=October 16, 2018}}
| officeholder_sort = Vitiello, Ronald
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1963
| died_year =
| term_start = June 30, 2018
| term_end = April 12, 2019
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2018|07|30|2019|04|12}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Matthew Albence official photo.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Matthew Albence{{cite web|date=July 31, 2020 |title=Statement from Acting Secretary Wolf on the Retirement of Matthew T. Albence |url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/07/31/statement-acting-secretary-wolf-retirement-matthew-t-albence |publisher=www.dhs.gov}}
| officeholder_sort = Albence, Matthew
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = April 13, 2019
| term_end = May 27, 2019
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|04|13|2019|05|27}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Official Portrait of Acting Commissioner Mark A. Morgan (48242367472).jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Mark A. Morgan{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/28/politics/mark-morgan-ice-acting-director/index.html |title=Mark Morgan takes over as acting director of ICE |last1=Sands |first1=Geneva |last2=Kelly |first2=Caroline |date=May 28, 2019 |website=CNN.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=June 15, 2019 |quote=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.}}
| officeholder_sort = Morgan, Mark A.
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1950
| died_year =
| term_start = May 28, 2019
| term_end = July 5, 2019
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|05|28|2019|07|05}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Matthew Albence official photo.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Matthew Albence{{cite web|date=July 31, 2020 |title=Statement from Acting Secretary Wolf on the Retirement of Matthew T. Albence |url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/07/31/statement-acting-secretary-wolf-retirement-matthew-t-albence |publisher=www.dhs.gov}}
| officeholder_sort = Albence, Matthew
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = July 5, 2019
| term_end = August 25, 2020
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|07|05|2020|08|25}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Tony Pham acting ICE director.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Tony Pham{{cite web|author=Camilo Montoya-Galvez|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tony-pham-former-refugee-and-prosecutor-tapped-to-lead-ice/|title=Tony Pham, former refugee, prosecutor and jail supervisor, tapped to lead ICE|date=August 25, 2020|publisher=CBS News}}
| officeholder_sort = Pham, Tony
| officeholder_note =
| born_year = 1973
| died_year =
| term_start = August 25, 2020
| term_end = December 31, 2020
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2020|08|25|2020|12|31}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Republican Party (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Jonathan Fahey Acting ICE director Portrait Photo.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Jonathan Fahey{{Cite web|date=2020-12-31|title=Trump administration taps criminal prosecutor to run ICE|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-criminal-prosecutor-ice|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Washington Examiner|language=en}}
| officeholder_sort = Fahey, Jonathan
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = December 31, 2020
| term_end = January 13, 2021
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2020|12|31|2021|01|13}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Tae D Johnson.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Tae Johnson{{ref label|5|5|5}}
| officeholder_sort = Pekoske, David
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = January 13, 2021
| term_end = July 4, 2023
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2021|01|13|2023|07|04}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
| alt_officeholder2 = Joe Biden
| alt_officeholder2_sort = Biden, Joe
| alt_officeholder2_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Patrick Lechleitner.jpg |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Patrick Lechleitner{{ref label|5|5|5}}
| officeholder_sort = Canegallo, Kristie
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = July 4, 2023
| term_end = January 20, 2025
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2023|07|04|2025|01|20}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Joe Biden
| alt_officeholder_sort = Biden, Joe
| alt_officeholder_party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = CalebVitello.png |bSize = 75
| officeholder = Caleb Vitello{{ref label|5|5|5}}
| officeholder_sort = Vitello, Caleb
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = January 20, 2025
| term_end = February 21, 2025
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2025|01|20|2025|02|21}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order2 = -
| image = Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd M. Lyons.jpg
| officeholder = Todd Lyonshttps://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/03/09/secretary-kristi-noem-announces-expanded-leadership-revamp-ice
| officeholder_sort = Lyons, Todd
| officeholder_note =
| born_year =
| died_year =
| term_start = March 9, 2025
| term_end = present
| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2025|03|09|}}
| acting = y
| alt_party = Independent (United States)
| alt_officeholder = Donald Trump
| alt_officeholder_sort = Trump, Donald
| alt_officeholder_party = Republican Party (United States)
|bSize=76}}
{{Officeholder table end}}