John T. Morton


John T. Morton is a former government employee, once the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from 2009–2013. Morton was appointed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on May 12, 2009. Morton stepped down from ICE in July 2013 to take on a role as senior vice president of Capital One, a bank with headquarters in Virginia.

Background

Morton served in the Peace Corps before obtaining a law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and becoming a prosecutor.

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.

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.
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." Under his leadership, ICE constructed a new detention center in Karnes County, TX. Morton called the new detention facility "sensible, sustainable and attentive to the unique needs of the individuals in our custody".

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.