ISTANBUL

Facing continuing controversy over its crackdown in US cities, including killing a woman in Minnesota, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has named a new deputy director.

"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 aliens from American neighborhoods," US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday on US-based social media company X.

Wall takes over from Madison Sheahan, who stepped down to launch a bid for Congress in Ohio.

Her exit has left ICE’s leadership in flux at a time when the agency is encountering growing pushback to its aggressive crackdown.

Critics say that contrary to the promises of US President Donald Trump, who pledged to pursue dangerous gang members and criminals who are also immigrants, ICE is going after law-abiding, longtime US residents, many of them working jobs that would otherwise go unfulfilled.

The aggressive stance of ICE agents in US cities has also faced harsh criticism, with masked agents without warrants reportedly dragging people out of cars, assaulting peaceful protesters, and using tear gas near schools. The death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, last week in Minneapolis, Minnesota, shot to death by an ICE agent, has also drawn widespread condemnation.

ICE has defended its actions, vowing to send even more agents into Minnesota, with President Donald Trump warning that a “day of reckoning and retribution” is coming.

ICE officials said Wall, the new deputy director, has more than 10 years of service within the agency.

"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," Noem added.