Trump Names David Venturella as Acting ICE Director
Former Obama-era immigration official David Venturella will take over ICE leadership amid ongoing scrutiny following fatal Minneapolis shootings.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Long-time federal immigration official David Venturella will lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as the agency continues President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson.
Venturella will replace outgoing ICE acting Director Todd Lyons, who announced last month he would leave his position by May 31. The DHS official confirmed to States Newsroom on Wednesday that Venturella will also serve in the role on an acting basis.
ICE has operated without a permanent, Senate-confirmed director since Trump first assumed office in 2017. The agency has faced significant oversight challenges and leadership gaps throughout both Trump administrations.
Agency Under Scrutiny Following Fatal Shootings
Venturella assumes leadership of an agency facing intense congressional and public scrutiny after federal immigration agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti triggered a months-long government shutdown when Democrats demanded constraints on federal immigration officers.
The shutdown ended last month, allowing Republicans to advance funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection for the next three years through a legislative process that bypasses Democratic opposition.
Background in Immigration Enforcement and Private Detention
Venturella brings extensive experience in immigration enforcement to the role. During the Obama administration, he led the Secure Communities program, which enabled local law enforcement to share fingerprints and booking information with federal immigration officials to identify immigrants without legal authorization.
The Obama administration eventually terminated the program, but Trump revived it in 2017 during his first term. The program remains a key component of current federal immigration enforcement strategy.
Before his new appointment, Venturella worked for private prison company GEO, which receives billions in government contracts to detain immigrants nationwide. He retired from GEO in 2023 after serving as vice president of client relations, a role that involved managing relationships with government agencies contracting detention services.
The appointment comes as the Trump administration continues expanding immigration enforcement operations across the country, with ICE playing a central role in deportation efforts targeting immigrants without legal status.
