Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy
Tony H. Pham currently serves as the Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy in the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans.
Between August 25, 2020 and December 31, 2020, Mr. Pham served as the Acting Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Prior to taking on this position, Mr. Pham served as the Principal Legal Advisor for the ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) starting on January 22, 2020.
In April of 1975, Mr. Pham and his family fled Vietnam as Saigon fell, marking the end of tragic war and the beginning of communist control of a once free nation. As refugees, the Phams resettled in the United States and worked towards gaining their citizenship and assimilating into American culture.
Mr. Pham began his legal career as a prosecutor in the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office where he litigated homicide, narcotics, and firearm cases. He also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney handling narcotics trafficking and illegal weapons matters under Project Exile. In 2006, he was ultimately tasked to create and lead the City’s first ever gang prosecution unit.
Mr. Pham’s legal portfolio also contains civil litigation experience in the public sector where, as an Assistant City Attorney, he handled all civil rights cases on behalf of the City’s police officers and police department. In 2010, Mr. Pham was selected by the Honorable C.T. Woody Jr. to serve as the in-house counsel for a Constitutionally elected sheriff, creating the “first of its kind” legal department.
Before entering federal service, Mr. Pham made history by becoming the only lawyer in Virginia to operate a correctional facility at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail, where he managed the daily operations and over 136 employees, both civilian and sworn law enforcement staff.
Mr. Pham holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from the College of William & Mary and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Richmond School of Law.
Mr. Pham is happily married for 23 years and is a proud father of two (2) wonderful children.