President Joe Biden selects Ed Gonzales of Harris County, Texas, and a vocal critic of the immigration enforcement policies placed by the Donald Trump administration, to lead the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Gonzales is the second critic to be selected by the White House to lead at a prominent position in the Homeland Security Department, following the Tucson, Ariz. Police Chief, Chris Magnus, who is selected to lead the Custom and Border Protection. Read on to learn more about the new Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ed Gonzales.
Who Is Ed Gonzales?
Ed Gonzales has led Harris County, the third-largest Sheriff’s office in the U.S. and largest in Texas, since 2017. Over the years, he has led a team of over 5,000 employees. Previously, he provided his services to the Houston Police Department, rising to the rank of Sergeant.
Now, nominated as the new director of ICE, Ed Gonzales is all set to lead the agency to strengthen border security to prevent illegal movement into and out of the U.S. The last time ICE had a permanent leader was in 2017. Since then, six acting successors lead the agency without receiving confirmation from the Senate. However, a change is visible on the horizon now.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Following the announcement, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said of Gonzalez, “Sheriff Ed Gonzalez is a strong choice for ICE Director. With a distinguished career in law enforcement and public service, Sheriff Gonzalez is well-suited to lead ICE as the agency advances our public safety and homeland security mission. I hope the Senate will swiftly confirm Sheriff Gonzalez to this critical position.”
