Who Is Ed Gonzalez? Biden’s ICE Nominee Signals Few Changes for the Agency

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could quickly have its first Senate-confirmed chief in almost 5 years. On July 15, the Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee held a listening to on the nomination for the pinnacle of ICE, Ed Gonzalez, who’s at present the Sheriff of Harris County, Texas.

Gonzalez’s nomination presents a singular alternative to start to rein in an company that was answerable for among the worst abuses of the final 4 years. Regardless of the numerous controversies and crises which have engulfed ICE prior to now years, Gonzalez signaled few main modifications at ICE and expressed in depth assist for the company and a few of its most controversial insurance policies in the course of the listening to.

If confirmed, ICE would as soon as once more have secure management. The Trump administration relied on appearing officers all through its complete time period in workplace. The final nominee for ICE Director, Ronald Vitiello, withdrew his nomination in 2018 after going through opposition from ICE’s union.

Though Gonzalez comes from a regulation enforcement background, not like prior ICE Administrators he has not beforehand labored throughout the Division of Homeland Safety. He had additionally beforehand expressed opposition to in depth cooperation with ICE, having terminated Harris County’s 287(g) settlement in 2016 on the grounds that it undermined native regulation enforcement’s cooperation with immigrant communities.

In the course of the affirmation, Gonzalez pulled away from any open critique of ICE. He reaffirmed his perception in “the rule of regulation” and usually agreed with Republican senators that ICE ought to deport people who’ve dedicated against the law or been ordered eliminated. And regardless of repeatedly falling again on the necessity for enforcement priorities, Gonzalez notably declined to endorse broader ideas of prosecutorial discretion past resource-related enforcement decisions.

Enforcement priorities took up a lot of the talk on the listening to, with Republican senators repeatedly lambasting the Biden administration for lowering deportations and arrests after taking workplace. Little consideration was paid to the most important issues at ICE which were documented lately.

Just one query, from Senator Hassan (D-NH), addressed ICE detention. Hassan drew consideration to ICE’s follow of contracting with personal prisons firms, which she famous has led to horrific scandals together with undesirable hysterectomies and a detention heart worker fired for white supremacist beliefs. Gonzalez did point out that he believed the “well being and security of our services is paramount,” however didn’t categorical any urgency at making certain such points are addressed.

Close to the tip of the listening to, Gonzalez was requested by Senator Scott (R-FL) how he would outline “success” at ICE. In response, Gonzalez declared that he “wish to see the place we turn out to be a strategic company, a preeminent regulation enforcement company that works successfully,” one which prioritizes enforcement, and one which engages with the neighborhood.

Gonzalez’s reply suggests he views the following 4 years as an opportunity to make ICE larger and extra environment friendly at deportations, whereas additionally turning into barely extra humane as a facet impact.

Years of abuses at ICE have proven that large change is required. Regardless of the necessity for extra important measures, at his affirmation listening to Gonzalez appeared to counsel he desires principally extra of the identical. If true, this represents a big missed alternative to chart a brand new means ahead on immigration enforcement in the USA

FILED UNDER: Immigration and Customs Enforcement