John T. Morton
John T. Morton (born 1966) is a former American government official who served as the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from 2009 to 2013. Morton was appointed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on May 12, 2009. Morton stepped down from ICE in July 2013 and currently works as the Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer at Capital One, a bank with headquarters in Virginia.[1]
John T. Morton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement | |
| In office May 12, 2009 – July 31, 2013 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | John Torres (as Assistant Secretary, acting) |
| Succeeded by | John Sandweg (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Templeton Morton 1966 (age 56–57) Inverness, Scotland |
| Alma mater | University of Virginia (BA, JD) |
Background
Morton was born to an American father and British mother and raised in Loudoun County, Virginia.[2] He graduated from Episcopal High School before attending the University of Virginia (UVA) for a bachelor's degree in English and history and the University of Virginia Law School for his JD.[3][4][5] He served in the Peace Corps between his schooling at UVA.[3][4] He worked for the Department of Justice for 15 years prior to being appointed Director of ICE.[6]
Philosophy
In an interview conducted shortly after his appointment, Morton emphasized a need for moderation:
And you're putting people in jail, and that's good work but it's also awesome work. I mean your actions lead to somebody going to jail. So I think, you know, the way to look at Government service is as a great honor and privilege... As a Government employee, balanced perspective is critical, trying to reach the common good is critical. You're not an extreme advocate. Your job is to try to get it right, and that's a very rewarding and satisfying position to be in.[4]
Morton's ICE
One of Morton's first acts in office was an expansion of I-9 audits. These were applied to over 650 businesses suspected of employing undocumented workers.[4]
Morton also expressed dissatisfaction at ICE's reliance on state and local prisons to house detainees, stating: "Immigration detention is a civil function, it is not a penal function. Over the years, however, the system has largely become dependent on excess jail space."[4] Under his leadership, ICE constructed a new detention center in Karnes County, Texas. Morton called the new detention facility "sensible, sustainable and attentive to the unique needs of the individuals in our custody".[7]
Political response
Because he worked on controversial issues, Morton complained of criticism from the right and the left. "I can get criticized on the same issue from both sides on the same day," he said in 2010.[8]
Personal life
Morton is married and has two daughters.[2]
References
- Preston, Julia (2013-06-17). "Director of Enforcement Agency Resigns to Work for Bank". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
- Nomination of John T. Morton (Speech). Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs United States Senate of the One Hundred Eleventh Congress First Session. U.S. Government Publishing Office. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
- Couch, Cullen (2010). "Guarding the Gates". University of Virginia School of Law. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- Morton, John T. (22 August 2009). "Interview". Business of Government Hour. IBM Center for the Business of Government. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- "EHS: The Magazine of Episcopal High School (Fall 2016)". Episcopal High School. 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- "John T. Morton". issuu. Department of Homeland Security. 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- Nevins, Joseph (28 March 2012). "Immigrant Detention in the United States: Hope and Change, or More of the Same?". Border Wars (NACLA). Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- Aizenman, N. C. (20 March 2010). "Latinos increasingly critical of Obama's record on immigration". Washington Post. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
External links
