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President Joe Biden will nominate Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If confirmed, Gonzalez will be the first politically appointed director.
Gonzalez, who has a decades-long career in law enforcement, was elected as sheriff of Harris County in 2016. He is the 30th sheriff of Harris County — the largest sheriff department in Texas and the third nationally. Gonzalez served as a police officer with the Houston Police Department and also served three terms on the Houston City Council.
Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary, says that Gonzalez is a “strong choice” for the position.
“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,” Mayorkas said.
At the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency, Gonzalez ended a partnership with ICE’s 287(g) program. Gonzalez criticized the former president for his approach to border and emergency management issues. At the time, he believed that family separation at the border was harmful and un-American.
