Acting Director of ICE Thomas Homan to Retire

On May 1, 2018, the acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Thomas D. Homan, announced his retirement from federal service [PDF version]. His retirement will not take effect until June because he agreed to the request by Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen that he remain for an additional month in order to assist with transition planning [PDF version].

Homan is the full-time Deputy Director of ICE, and he has been serving as acting Director of ICE during the administration of President Donald Trump [see blog]. Homan had initially planned to retire in 2017, but he agreed to stay on after he was asked to do so by former Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly. Homan's resignation is especially notable because President Trump had nominated him on November 14, 2017, to become the permanent Director of ICE [PDF version].

Because of controversy over how Homan has dutifully implemented the immigration enforcement policies and posture of the Trump Administration, Homan would have likely faced a difficult confirmation process in the Senate had he not retired. With his resignation, President Trump and Secretary Nielsen will be tasked with both choosing a new acting Director of ICE and finding a nominee to take the position on a permanent basis. We will update the website with more information on the leadership situation at ICE as it becomes available.