David Venturella: 5 things to know about ICE officials expected to lead agency after Todd Lyons

David Venturella: 5 things to know about expected ICE chief

1. Venturella worked for the private prison company GEO Group during the Obama administration before rejoining ICE. If appointed, it could draw criticism from those skeptical of the influence of private prison companies over ICE, the New York Times reported.
2. Venturella reportedly prefers quiet operations to the erratic operations carried out by Homeland Security last year, as seen in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
3. He is known to have allies within the agency and the Trump administration, with one federal official telling the New York Times that Venturella has an ally in Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller.
4. Venturella began his law enforcement career in Chicago in 1986, working for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, according to the IBM Center for the Business of Government, a think tank. During his career, Venturella reportedly successfully negotiated bilateral repatriation agreements on behalf of the U.S. government and served as a delegate to the semi-annual U.S./Cuba immigration negotiations. He also reportedly served as vice president and business development director for two private companies focused on homeland security issues from 2004 to 2008.
5. Venturella reportedly holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bradley University. He reportedly completed advanced executive leadership programs in management from Harvard University and MIT.

The New York Times reported in March that Venturela called ICE officials in Miami to ensure officers there picked up her ex-wife, a Trump ally with whom she was locked in a custody battle. At the time, the Department of Homeland Security said she was arrested on criminal charges. “Any suggestion that she was arrested and deported for political reasons or interests is false,” the department said in a statement.