Madison Sheahan, the No. 2 official at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is leaving the agency to challenge Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
WASHINGTON: The deputy director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Madison Sheahan, is leaving the agency to run for a seat in Congress.
Sheahan, 28, announced her departure and congressional bid in social media posts on Thursday.
She plans to challenge Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur for Ohio’s 9th District in the US House of Representatives.
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Her exit comes as ICE faces intense scrutiny following two officer-involved shootings in Minneapolis within a week.
An ICE officer fatally shot US citizen Renee Good last week, and on Wednesday night, an officer shot a Venezuelan man during an enforcement operation.
The US Department of Homeland Security said the officer in Wednesday’s incident was attacked with a shovel and broomstick and fired defensively.
Sheahan was a close ally of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who praised her as “a work horse, strong executor, and terrific leader.”
In her statement, Sheahan wrote that under her tenure the agency was empowered to put American safety first and set a new standard for excellence.
ICE has been central to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, surging officers to Democratic-led cities to drive up deportations.
Aggressive tactics have included agents tackling suspects in public and using chemical irritants on protesters, fueling violent encounters.
The agency has also seen significant leadership turnover in the past year under the Trump administration.
Sheahan, a former campaign aide to Noem in South Dakota, joined ICE as deputy director early last year despite having no prior ICE experience.
Her previous role was as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Some current and former ICE officials bristled at her appointment given her limited law enforcement credentials.
The Trump administration removed two top ICE leaders in May as White House aide Stephen Miller pressed for more arrests.
Officers have reportedly grappled with burnout and frustration struggling to meet Miller’s aggressive arrest goals.
The November midterm elections will decide control of Congress, where Republicans currently hold majorities.
Kaptur won Ohio’s 9th District by a narrow margin in 2024, with several political experts rating the district as leaning Republican. – Reuters
