Press: we have several former detainees who were released earlier this week that are available to speak to press. Please email media@theniya.org to get in contact with them.
According to the Associated Press, Gary Mead, the Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has resigned, citing the release of hundreds of immigrants from detention earlier this week. More from AP:
In an email obtained Wednesday by the AP, Gary Mead told coworkers that he was leaving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the end of April. Mead is the head of enforcement and removal operations at ICE.
Mead had told co-workers of his resignation in the email sent Tuesday, hours after U.S. officials had confirmed that a few hundred illegal immigrants facing deportation had been released from immigration jails due to budget cuts.
More from us as the story develops.
UPDATE: according to Politico, ICE has called the AP story above “inaccurate and misleading.” More from Politico:
“The Associated Press’ report is inaccurate and misleading,” ICE spokeswoman Gillian Christensen said, responding to the AP’s story that made it sound like Gary Mead, the director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, was taking the fall for the detainee release. “Gary Mead announced several weeks ago to ICE senior leadership that he planned to retire after 40 years in federal service and 6 years at ICE. As planned, and as shared with ICE staff weeks ago, Mr. Mead will retire at the end of April.”
