Madison Sheahan, the deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stepped down from her position on Thursday to run for Congress in Ohio.
Sheahan, a close ally of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and self-proclaimed “Trump conservative,” has served as the agency’s No. 2 official since March 2025.
Her departure was announced internally on Thursday morning, marking the end of a 10-month tenure focused on aggressive enforcement and deportation.
In a statement provided to the Washington Examiner by an ICE spokesperson, Noem supported Sheahan’s decision to run for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.
“She will be a great defender of freedom when she goes to Congress,” Noem said in the statement.
Sheahan worked under Noem during her time as governor of South Dakota.
During Sheahan’s time at ICE, she was instrumental in implementing the administration’s “culture of accountability.”
Noem praised her work at ICE, highlighting her work ethic and accomplishments in immigration enforcement.
“Madison Sheahan is a workhorse, 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,” Noem said.
Sheahan’s congressional run decision comes as President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, where protests denouncing ICE are in full swing after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer.
Before joining ICE, Sheahan served as the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, where she created specialized enforcement groups to assist with high-profile security events, such as Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl.
Sheahan’s move to run for Congress will bring her back to her native Ohio. Her campaign website outlines her platform as protecting American jobs, paychecks, and values.
MINNESOTA JUDGE CONSIDERS LAWSUIT THAT COULD HAMSTRING ICE TACTICS AMID ENFORCEMENT SURGE
It also details her time at the Homeland Security Department, where she oversaw a significant expansion as the workforce grew from approximately 20,000 to 30,000 specialists, while the budget surged from $10 billion to $85 billion. Her most significant achievement was leading the recruitment of 12,000 law enforcement officers in just six months.
The seat Sheahan is seeking is held by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), who has served since 1983, making her the longest-serving woman in U.S. congressional history.