DHS announces new ICE leadership

The Department of Homeland Security has announced the new leadership of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Key Points:

• Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tapped Patrick “P.J” Lechleitner to lead ICE as Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director, after acting director Tae Johnson recently announced his retirement.
• Lechleitner previously served as the Acting Executive Associate Director for Homeland Security Investigations and as the Assistant Director for HSI’s International Operations Division. In these roles, Lechleitner was responsible for administering a budget of more than $160 million and the operational oversight of 80 offices in 53 countries.
• Prior to his career at ICE, Lechleitner served as a police officer and was a member of the U.S. military. Lechleitner’s full biography is available here.

Additional Information: Johnson has led ICE as acting director under the Biden administration. President Biden’s nominee to direct ICE, Ed Gonzalez, removed himself from consideration for the post last year. The agency has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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