# Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

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). 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.

## Officeholders

†- Indicates title of office upon appointment was Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
| No. | Deputy Secretary | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | President |
| 1 | Garcia, MichaelMichael J. Garcia† (born 1961) | March 11, 2003 | September 5, 2005 | 2 years, 178 days | Republican | Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R) |
| - | Clark, John P.John P. Clark† Acting | September 6, 2005 | January 3, 2006 | 119 days | Independent | Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R) |
| 2 | Myers, JulieJulie Myers† (born 1969) | January 4, 2006 | November 14, 2008 | 2 years, 315 days | Republican | Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R) |
| - | Torres, John P.John P. Torres† Acting | November 17, 2008 | May 12, 2009 | 176 days | Independent | Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R) Barack Obama (D) |
| 3 | Morton, John T.John T. Morton† (born 1966) | May 12, 2009 | July 31, 2013 | 4 years, 111 days | Independent | Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D) |
| - | Sandweg, JohnJohn Sandweg (born 1975) Acting | August 1, 2013 | February 21, 2014 | 229 days | Democratic | Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D) |
| - | Winkowski, ThomasThomas S. Winkowski (born 1954) Acting | March 16, 2014 | December 23, 2014 | 282 days | Independent | Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D) |
| 4 | Saldaña, SarahSarah Saldaña (born 1951) | December 23, 2014 | January 20, 2017 | 2 years, 28 days | Independent | Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D) |
| - | Ragsdale, DanielDaniel Ragsdale Acting | January 20, 2017 | January 30, 2017 | 10 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Homan, ThomasTom Homan Acting | January 30, 2017 | June 29, 2018 | 1 year, 150 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Vitiello, RonaldRonald Vitiello (born 1963) Acting | June 30, 2018 | April 12, 2019 | 256 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Albence, MatthewMatthew Albence Acting | April 13, 2019 | May 27, 2019 | 44 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Morgan, Mark A.Mark A. Morgan (born 1950) Acting | May 28, 2019 | July 5, 2019 | 38 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Albence, MatthewMatthew Albence Acting | July 5, 2019 | August 25, 2020 | 1 year, 51 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Pham, TonyTony Pham (born 1973) Acting | August 25, 2020 | December 31, 2020 | 128 days | Republican | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Fahey, JonathanJonathan Fahey Acting | December 31, 2020 | January 13, 2021 | 13 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Pekoske, DavidTae Johnson Acting | January 13, 2021 | July 4, 2023 | 2 years, 172 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) Joe Biden (D) |
| - | Canegallo, KristiePatrick Lechleitner Acting | July 4, 2023 | January 20, 2025 | 1 year, 200 days | Independent | Biden, JoeJoe Biden (D) |
| - | Vitello, CalebCaleb Vitello Acting | January 20, 2025 | February 21, 2025 | 32 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |
| - | Lyons, ToddTodd Lyons Acting | March 9, 2025 | present | 2 days | Independent | Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R) |