Tae Johnson Explained

Tae Johnson
Office:Acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Term Start:January 13, 2021
Term End:July 4, 2023
President:Donald Trump
Joe Biden
Predecessor:Jonathan Fahey (acting)
Successor:Patrick Lechleitner (acting)
Office1:Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Term Start1:2020
Term End1:January 13, 2021
President1:Donald Trump
Predecessor1:Derek Benner
Successor1:Matthew C. Allen (acting)
Education:Salisbury University (BS)

Tae D. Johnson is an American law enforcement official who served as the senior official performing the duties of the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from January 2021 to July 2023.[1] The legality of his status as Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was disputed.

Education

Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Salisbury University.

Career

He began his career in Salisbury, Maryland, working as an officer of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. On January 13, 2021, Johnson began serving as the senior official performing the duties of the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the resignation of Jonathan Fahey.[2] [3] [4]

In 2019, Johnson provided testimony to the United States House Committee on Homeland Security.[5]

A February 8, 2023 report from the Government Accountability Office found that Johnson's service "as Acting ICE Director from November 16, 2021, through the present day is in violation of the [Federal Vacancies Reform] Act" as it had exceeded the time limit permitted for officials to serve in an acting capacity and that "any actions taken by Mr. Johnson on or after November 16, 2021, must be nullified or viewed as having no force or effect".[6] The U.S. Department of Homeland Security disagreed with the GAO's conclusion.[6]

Johnson retired at the beginning of July 2023[7] [8] and was succeeded as acting director by deputy director Patrick J. Lechleitner.

References

  1. Web site: ICE Leadership. 2021-01-15. www.ice.gov. en.
  2. Web site: Immigration agency leader resigns, only weeks in office. 2021-01-15. Star Tribune.
  3. Web site: Acting ICE director resigns after just weeks in office. 2021-01-15. wkyc.com. 14 January 2021 . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2021-01-15. Acting ICE Director Resigns After Capitol Attack, Weeks After Taking Over. 2021-01-15. Documented. en-US.
  5. Web site: Oversight Hearing of ICE Detention Facilities C-SPAN.org. 2021-01-15. www.c-span.org. en-us.
  6. Web site: Violation of the Time Limit Imposed by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998: Assistant Secretary/Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement . gao.gov . . February 11, 2023.
  7. Web site: Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on the Retirement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tae D. Johnson . www.dhs.gov . Department of Homeland Security . 23 July 2023.
  8. Web site: Lybrand . Holmes . ICE acting chief Tae Johnson to retire . CNN.com . CNN . 23 July 2023 . en . 5 June 2023.