Madison Sheahan, the deputy director of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has told leadership she will resign and launch a run for Congress in her home state of Ohio, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.
The 28-year-old is expected to make the announcement later this morning, sources tell the Daily Mail.
Her decision comes at a turbulent moment for the agency, which has been leading a massive crackdown on illegal immigration that has sparked protests nationwide – including the Minneapolis demonstration that resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good on January 7.
Sheahan, who previously served as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, has been a close ally of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her senior adviser Corey Lewandowski.
Noem told the Daily Mail in a statement Thursday: ‘I’ve known her for years, she loves her family, Ohio and her country. She will be a great defender of freedom when she goes to Congress.
‘Madison Sheahan is 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. We wish her all the best.’
Sheahan was appointed less than a year ago by Noem to serve directly under ICE Director Todd Lyons, a close ally of Noem’s chief rival, Trump border czar Tom Homan.
Homan and Noem have been locked in a power struggle inside Trump’s second-term immigration apparatus, with Homan pushing aggressive, enforcement-first mass deportations while viewing Noem as slow and overly political, sources close to Homan have told the Daily Mail.
ICE deputy director Madison Sheahan will resign to run for Congress, the Daily Mail has learned
The rivalry has hardened as rank-and-file ICE agents and DHS officials increasingly align with Homan’s hardline leadership style over Noem’s public-facing approach at DHS.
Sheahan’s departure indicates Noem’s grip over the department may be slipping amid pressure from the White House to increase deportations.
The Daily Mail reached out to Homeland Security for comment.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
