The Trump administration elevated a longtime ICE legal veteran into the agency’s No. 2 role as unrest, threats and political pressure swirl around immigration enforcement nationwide.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday that Charles Wall, the agency’s top legal official, will take over as deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, effective immediately.
Wall replaces Madison Sheahan, who stepped aside to launch a congressional campaign in Ohio, triggering a leadership reshuffle at a moment when ICE operations are drawing intense national attention.
Noem framed Wall’s promotion as a continuity move rooted in enforcement priorities, pointing to his role overseeing removal cases and legal strategy tied to immigration arrests and deportations.
“For the last year, Mr. Wall served as ICE’s Principal Legal Advisor, playing a key role in helping us deliver historic results in arresting and removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from American neighborhoods,” Noem wrote.
Effective immediately, Charles Wall will serve as the Deputy Director of @ICEGov.
For the last year, Mr. Wall served as ICE’s Principal Legal Advisor, playing a key role in helping us deliver historic results in arresting and removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 15, 2026
“Mr. Wall has served as an ICE attorney for 14 years and is a forward leaning, strategic thinker who understands the importance of prioritizing the removal of murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists from our country,” she added.
“I look forward to working with him in his new role to make America safe again,” Noem continued, confirming the appointment takes effect immediately.
Wall most recently managed ICE’s legal arm, overseeing more than 3,500 attorneys and support staff responsible for removal proceedings and internal legal guidance, according to DHS.
He has served with ICE since 2012 and previously held senior counsel roles in New Orleans, DHS stated, giving him more than a decade inside the agency’s enforcement and litigation structure.
The personnel change follows Sheahan’s announcement earlier Thursday that she is running for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, a seat held for more than four decades by Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
Sheahan, 28, previously served as executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party and led Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries before joining ICE leadership.
“In just one year, we’ve made history, recruiting 12,000 new ICE officers and agents, and deporting over 2.5 million illegal aliens. Ohio neighborhoods are safer thanks to President Trump and ICE,” Sheahan said in a campaign video.
I’m Madison Sheahan. I’m a Trump conservative running for Congress to protect American jobs, American paychecks, and American values.
No Excuses. Let’s get it done.
Join our team today:https://t.co/zGNdMEzFk1 pic.twitter.com/Gz0CI8e5YV
— Sheahan For Ohio (@TeamSheahan) January 15, 2026
“At ICE, I returned security to our communities. I’m ready to take that same mindset to Congress,” she added, while also posting her resignation letter on X.
Noem publicly backed Sheahan’s bid, praising her tenure at ICE and tying her record to the administration’s enforcement agenda.
“I’ve known her for years, she loves her family, Ohio and her country. She will be a great defender of freedom when she goes to Congress,” Noem said.
Calling Sheahan “a terrific leader,” Noem credited her with helping ICE fulfill what she described as the American people’s mandate to target, arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens.
Administration officials have noted that ICE remains focused on what they describe as the “worst of the worst” offenders, while warning that political resistance increases danger for officers on the ground.
That warning has taken on urgency following violent confrontations tied to ICE operations in Minneapolis over the past week.
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ICE activity in the city drew national attention after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good during an ICE-involved incident on Jan. 7, sparking protests that intensified days later.
Chaos unfolded Wednesday night into Thursday morning as agitators clashed with law enforcement following a second ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, authorities reported.
During that incident, an ICE agent was hospitalized after being ambushed during an attempted arrest of a Venezuelan national, officials said.
The agent fired his weapon, striking one Venezuelan suspect, who authorities reported is stable and in custody.
Trump blamed Democrats for encouraging the unrest and warning that federal intervention remains on the table.
“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT,” he wrote on Truth Social.
BREAKING: Anti-ICE Mob is now slashing tires and busting windows of ICE vehicle pic.twitter.com/K4qkcxb0Qb
— Human Events (@HumanEvents) January 15, 2026
He added that the move would “quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State.”
The White House reinforced Thursday that the Insurrection Act remains an option if violence continues.
“The Insurrection Act is a tool at the president’s disposal. As you know, it has been used, sparingly, but it has been used by previous presidents in American history,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Leavitt pointed to rising threats against federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, placing responsibility on Democratic rhetoric.
“The Democrat Party has demeaned these individuals,” she said. “They’ve even referred to them as ‘Nazis’ and as ‘the Gestapo.’ And that is absolutely leading to the violence we’re seeing in the streets.”
She referenced images circulating from Minneapolis, adding, “It says, ‘F ICE.’ You have these individuals who are putting their middle finger, proudly so, at the camera, another ICE individual, a vehicle that was vandalized last night by these left wing agitators.”
“These people don’t do this without encouragement from people in power who make them feel like it’s OK,” Leavitt added.
Leavitt also faulted media coverage for escalating tensions, arguing reporting has fueled disorder rather than clarifying events.
Noem echoed that criticism during an appearance on “America’s Newsroom,” accusing media outlets of misrepresenting the Minneapolis incidents.
“You see a lot of news reports out there that it was another ICE shooting,” Noem pointed out.
“They didn’t report anything about the weapons or the fact that these individuals came out of a home to beat him mercilessly with a shovel and that he had to protect his own life.”
Noem said she contacted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz directly, warning against a repeat of past unrest.
“Gov. Tim Walz has my phone number. I have called him and talked to him and said, ‘Listen, you let your city burn down in 2020. Don’t do it again,’” she added.
She attributed the violence to political messaging from Democratic leaders and described their anti-ICE rhetoric as dangerous.
“I said, ‘Sir, listen — Tim, you know, with the situation, what’s going on. We are enforcing federal law. If you don’t like the laws, go change them,’” Noem remarked.
She continued, “You have my personal cell phone. You call me. If you need me, you call me. We will be there to help back you up — but protect your city, protect your state.’”
According to Noem, Walz responded by acknowledging disagreements over how the situation should be handled.
