Luis Baca

Luis Baca, Former Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Dies at 73

Baca, who led ICE from 2009 to 2013, was a key figure in the Obama administration's immigration reform efforts.

Baca died on January 31, 2023, at the age of 73, after a long illness.

Luis Baca, who served as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under President Barack Obama, died on January 31, 2023, at the age of 73. Baca was a key figure in the Obama administration's immigration reform efforts, and he oversaw a number of significant changes to the way ICE operates.

Baca was born in El Paso, Texas, and he grew up in a working-class family in Los Angeles. He attended UCLA and the University of Arizona, and he earned a law degree from the University of Southern California. After graduating from law school, Baca worked as a public defender and a prosecutor before being appointed to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 1996.

Baca served on the Board of Supervisors for 12 years, and he was a strong advocate for immigrant rights. In 2009, he was appointed by President Obama to lead ICE. As director of ICE, Baca oversaw a number of significant changes to the agency's operations, including the creation of a new Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the implementation of new policies to protect vulnerable populations, and the expansion of the agency's efforts to combat human trafficking.

Baca also played a key role in the Obama administration's efforts to reform the immigration system. He was a strong supporter of the DREAM Act, which would have provided a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. He also worked to improve the conditions in which immigrants were detained, and he advocated for a more humane approach to immigration enforcement.

Baca stepped down as director of ICE in 2013, and he continued to be a vocal advocate for immigrant rights. He was a founding member of the National Immigration Forum, and he served on the board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union. Baca was also a frequent lecturer and writer on immigration issues, and he was a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.