Who is Madison Sheahan? ICE deputy director resigns to run for Congress in Ohio

Madison Sheahan, the high-profile deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), resigned on Thursday, January 15.

The 28-year-old is now running for a U.S. House seat in Ohio, which is the primary reason for her resignation.

Sheahan is a close ally of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was the central figure in executing the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda.

She has also worked with Noem as her Political Director from February 2021 to January 2024. Apart from that role, she has also served as the executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party from January 2023 to January 2024.

Sheahan was also appointed Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries under Governor Jeff Landry from January 2024 to March 2025.

In March 2025, Noem appointed her as the deputy director of ICE.

Sheahan attended Ohio State University from 2016 through 2019, earning a bachelor’s in public affairs, public management, leadership, and policy, and in agribusiness.

In a campaign video, Sheahan described herself as a “Trump conservative.” 

This seat was previously held by Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur for a long time.

She stated she is “tired of watching my hard-working family, friends, and neighbours pay more and get ignored.”