Trump taps David Venturella, former prison director, to lead ICE | Donald Trump News

Venturella will support the immigration agency after a senior role at GEO Group.

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced that David Venturella, a former executive at the prison company GEO Group, will be the new director of prisons. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HE).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the agency, said Tuesday that Venturella will replace Todd Lyons, who is leaving the agency on May 31.

“Dave Venturella will serve as director of ICE following the departure of Todd Lyons,” DHS said.

ICE has played a major role in Trump’s mass deportation campaign, which is part of a tough immigration crackdown that has blocked both legal and illegal entry into the US.

But Trump’s efforts to detain and deport foreign nationals have had a significant economic impact private contractors which applies to the US immigration system.

GEO Group, one such company, has seen its prices rise by 55 percent in the past six months.

The Trump administration’s efforts to expand parking have resulted in lucrative deals for the company, including a $1bn deal to open a facility in New Jersey’s largest city, Newark.

“Last year was the best time to win new business in our company’s history,” George Zoley said on an earnings call last week.

Venturella, who has worked at ICE under both Democratic and Republican administrations, served as an executive at GEO Group before rejoining ICE last year.

Silky Shah, head of the Detention Watch Network, told the Associated Press that Venturella’s recruitment was “a classic example of domestic violence”.

“Venturella’s familiarity with ICE may also lead to the opening of an ICE detention facility,” Shah added.

The GEO Group operates over a dozen immigration facilities in the US. Immigration detention centers are a frequent topic of discussion allegations and groups of freedom of the poor and the violation of the rights of many people.

At least 18 people have died in ICE custody in the first four months of 2026, following a twelve-year streak of 31 deaths through 2025.

ICE has also been accused of using excessive force during enforcement actions in public places.

For example, in January, an anti-immigration campaign in west-central Minneapolis led to federal agencies a serious shot two US citizens: Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good.

Their deaths have sparked outrage over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.