By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Related Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The performing director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement resigned Wednesday, solely weeks after taking up the company that detains and deports immigrants and runs worldwide prison investigations.
Jonathan Fahey gave no clarification for his abrupt departure in a quick e-mail to workers late within the day, telling them that Wednesday was his final day. He was changed by Tae Johnson, at the moment deputy director and now the company’s fourth performing director since August.
“I’m sincerely impressed by the professionalism and integrity with which you carry out your duties every day,” he wrote in his farewell message obtained by The Related Press. “Regardless of leaving your ranks, I’ll stay an ardent supporter of this Company and workforce, cheering in your successes and praying to your security.”
ICE spokeswoman Jenny Burke confirmed Fahey had resigned and that Johnson would change him however did reply why. BuzzFeed Information first reported the resignation.
ICE is a part of the Division of Homeland Safety, which has additionally cycled by leaders throughout Donald Trump’s presidency. Chad Wolf resigned this week as performing secretary of a division that has been with out a Senate-confirmed chief since Kirstjen Nielsen was pressured out in April 2019.
ICE, with greater than 20,000 workers, oversees a sprawling community of immigration detention facilities and carries out deportations. Its Homeland Safety Investigations unit has a broad portfolio, together with youngster exploitation, cash laundering, antiquities theft and human smuggling.
Fahey’s announcement stunned workers. He joined Homeland Safety in March as a senior adviser for immigration coverage after years as a federal and state prosecutor in Virginia.
Johnson takes the reins at ICE lower than every week earlier than President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. He has labored at Homeland Safety and considered one of its predecessor businesses, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, for greater than 25 years, together with senior positions in ICE’s enforcement and removing operations division.
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