Tae Johnson, ICE leader, to depart this month.

Acting Leader of ICE to Depart at End of Month

Tae Johnson, the acting leader of embattled federal agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will leave his post at the end of the month, setting up yet another high-level vacancy within the Department of Homeland Security.

Johnson’s forthcoming departure was first reported by the Washington Examiner in late April.

ICE’s Critical Investigations

“As ICE’s leader since 2021, he has overseen some of the nation’s most critical investigations, including Operation Stolen Promise to combat the new threats related to counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and Operation Blue Lotus to curtail the flow of fentanyl smuggled into the United States from Mexico,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement issued Monday afternoon.

ICE has struggled to find a permanent leader since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. Biden nominated Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, but later withdrew his pick.

Johnson is a career law enforcement official who has worked as deputy director carrying out the duties of acting director for nearly two and a half years.

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This story is developing and will be updated.