DHS investigator takes over as acting director of ICE, nation's immigration agency
Patrick "P.J." Lechleitner is a career ICE official with more than 20 years with the Department of Homeland Security The Biden administration has selected the new head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sources confirmed to ABC News on Wednesday. Patrick "P.J." Lechleitner, a career ICE official, will become acting director of the agency after more than 20 years with the Department of Homeland Security. Lechleitner's predecessor as acting director , Tae Johnson, announced his retirement last month. MORE: 4 more suspects charged in deadliest US smuggling attempt A founding member of DHS in the early 2000s, Lechleitner worked his way up through Homeland Security Investigations, the division of ICE responsible for combating human trafficking and smuggling. "He is someone whose counsel I have sought, and whose advice and guidance I have trusted," HSI Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown said in a statement to ABC News. "PJ gets it. He gets it at ...