"I wish this administration well as it strives to overcome the paralyzing political gridlock that threatens far more than our nation's border," he tweeted.
Eight months after President Biden tapped the veteran law enforcement officer to take on the high-profile role, Gonzalez will face the Senate again for confirmation.
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Senate Committee Vets Biden Pick to Lead ICE
If confirmed, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez will inherit an agency trying to rehab its image in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer looks on during an operation in Escondido, Calif., in July 2019. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
(CN) Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Thursday that as director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he would prioritize deporting violent convicts because the agency lacks the resources to deport all undocumented immigrants in the country.
Calls to abolish ICE became a rallying cry for Democrats and immigrant advocates under former President Donald Trump, as the agency led his crackdown in which virtually anyone in the country without lawful status was fair game to be deported.
Why Sheriff Gonzalez was selected
KHOU 11 political analyst Bob Stein said immigration continues to be a challenging issue for Biden. Stein said Gonzalez has a history of advocating for humane treatment and housing for people crossing the border.
“I think having someone with law enforcement experience who is Hispanic, who has been in elected office, multiple elected offices, allows you to say, ‘Here’s someone who knows how to do this and do it humanely,’” Stein said.
What happens next, and who would be the county s new sheriff?
If Gonzalez is confirmed as ICE director, Commissioners Court would appoint the sheriff’s replacement to serve until a new election, most likely in 2022.