President Donald Trump is reportedly selecting Dave Venturella to replace Todd Lyons as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director.
The decision was confirmed by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson in a statement to NewsNation, following Lyons’s decision to take a private sector job and step down from his role in ICE.
Look:
Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE and key player in helping the Trump administration remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from American communities. He jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years. Thanks…
— Secretary Markwayne Mullin (@SecMullinDHS) April 17, 2026
“Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE and key player in helping the Trump administration remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from American communities. He jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years,” wrote DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin on April 16. “Thanks to his leadership, American communities are safer. We wish him luck on his next opportunity in the private sector. His last day is May 31, 2026.”
The new pick has a long history within the department.
“Venturella, who worked for ICE during the administrations of former President Obama and former President George W. Bush, currently works for the department to facilitate contracts between ICE and immigrant detention facilities. Before he rejoined the department last year, Venturella worked for a private prison company that operates immigration detention facilities, according to reporting from CBS News,” The Hill wrote.
X users reacted to the selection:
Can we please get someone in there that can clean up our country? I’m sick and tired of them running around and not doing anything. It’s time to finish the job. Illegals get out you are not wanted here stop taking citizens jobs and lleva tu escuincle contigo!! https://t.co/tDQbuTfJWn
— Dee Dee Russell (@MzDVasquez) May 13, 2026
David Venturella returned to the public sector last year after working for GEO Group, which contracts with the government to run detention facilities. https://t.co/RastMgtbm2
— Charles Ornstein (@charlesornstein) May 13, 2026
This is GREAT news!
— Charlie 🇺🇸 (@SowellCharles) May 13, 2026
Is David V. a supporter of 100 million mass deporations?
That is the only question that really matters at this point.@GregoryKBovino
— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) May 12, 2026
hope he is not as useless as Mullin is turning out to be
We Voted for Deportations
— Steve o/b/o Patrick (@rhainman) May 12, 2026
Outstanding pick. Decent human being. Great boss. Stands absolutely NOTHING to gain by taking this position as he already made his money in the private industry before retiring from GEO where he was replaced by Matt Albence.
— louieblouie (@louieblouie1) May 13, 2026
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