US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has appointed a new deputy director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the agency navigates volatile public protests and maintains former President Donald Trump's stringent migrant policies.
Leadership Reshuffle at Immigration Agency
On Thursday, Charles Wall was named to the post, replacing Madison Sheahan, who held the role for less than a year. Sheahan, a 28-year-old former campaign aide to Noem in South Dakota, is departing to run for Congress, aiming to represent Ohio's 9th District in the House of Representatives.
Wall, who has served at ICE since 2012, was most recently the agency's principal legal adviser. In that role, he oversaw the team of lawyers representing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in deportation proceedings and providing counsel to officials.
In a statement, Secretary Noem described Wall as "a forward leaning, strategic thinker who understands the importance of prioritizing the removal of murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists from our country." She added, "I look forward to working with him in his new role to make America safe again."
Internal Tensions and a Rivalry for Control
This leadership change occurs against a backdrop of reported internal strife. Sources indicate Noem has been locked in a power struggle with Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, within the administration's immigration apparatus. Homan is said to favour aggressive, enforcement-first mass deportations, while viewing Noem's approach as slower and more politically cautious.
This rivalry has intensified as rank-and-file ICE agents and DHS officials are increasingly aligning with Homan's hardline style. Sheahan's departure is seen by some as a sign that Noem's influence over the department may be waning, particularly amid pressure from the White House to accelerate deportation numbers.
The Trump administration has reshuffled ICE leadership multiple times in the past year. The agency's acting director was pushed out in February 2023, coinciding with Sheahan's appointment. Notably, Sheahan reported to ICE Director Todd Lyons, who is considered a close ally of Tom Homan, Noem's chief rival.
Scrutiny Over Training and Violent Incidents
ICE's aggressive enforcement tactics have drawn significant public scrutiny and protest, particularly in recent weeks. The agency faces independent investigation by the DHS Office of Inspector General following several high-profile incidents:
- An ICE officer in Minneapolis fatally shot Renee Good, a US citizen and mother of three.
- Days later, another ICE officer shot a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis during an operation, escalating tensions in a city where residents have protested immigration sweeps.
- A 21-year-old man permanently lost his sight in Santa Ana, California, after an ICE agent fired a non-lethal round at close range during a demonstration.
The Inspector General's probe, which began in August, is examining whether the rush to hire 10,000 new agents has led to dangerous shortcuts in vetting and training. Investigators are set to visit the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia, where sources claim new recruits are being fast-tracked.
"They're offering $50,000 incentives for people to sign up, dropping their vetting and fitness standards, and then not training them well," one source said. "This would appear to be a recipe for disaster."
Public confidence in the agency appears shaken. One poll indicated that 46% of Americans support abolishing ICE entirely, with a further 12% unsure. As Charles Wall steps into his new role, he inherits an agency grappling with internal division, external protest, and profound questions about its methods and future.
