By Michael Williams, Priscilla Alvarez, CNN
(CNN) – Madison Sheahan, the Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announced on Thursday that she is resigning from her role to pursue a congressional seat in Ohio.
A trusted ally of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Sheahan has been one of the most prominent figures at ICE as the agency enforced President Donald Trump’s deportation policy.
Before this role, she served as Noem’s political director when Noem was governor of South Dakota.
“I’ve known her for years; she loves her family, Ohio and her country,” Noem said in a statement on Thursday. She described Sheahan as “a work horse, strong executor, and terrific leader who led the men and women of ICE to achieve the American people’s mandate to target, arrest, and deport criminal illegal aliens.”
“She will be a great defender of freedom when she goes to Congress,” Noem added.
The agency where Sheahan has worked has faced intense scrutiny due to its aggressive tactics while conducting immigration operations nationwide.
The recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer has sparked significant protests. This prompted Trump on Thursday to threaten a military response – warning he could invoke the Insurrection Act.
In an email obtained by CNN, Sheahan expressed gratitude towards both Noem and Trump saying, “It has been a privilege to fight for you and with you in service to our great nation.”
Sheahan quickly rose through the ranks after joining ICE last March and played a key role in overseeing a significant hiring push within the agency. However, some within and outside have criticized her relative lack of law enforcement experience.
Before taking up her position at ICE, Sheahan was 28 years old and previously served as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
This past August, several local law enforcement leaders – many supportive of Trump’s deportation efforts – voiced criticism toward ICE after receiving emails from Sheahan encouraging their deputies to apply for positions at the agency.
Growing up in Ohio and attending Ohio State University, Sheahan is aiming to represent the state’s 9th Congressional District. This district has been held by Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur since 1983.
This district is among only 13 that Trump won during the 2024 election but is currently represented by a Democrat in Congress.
In a video announcing her campaign for Congress, Sheahan referred to herself as a “Trump conservative” who feels “tired of watching my hard-working family, friends and neighbors pay more and get ignored.”
“Real change means real leadership; I’ve done it before,” she stated.
The-CNN-Wire
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