Acting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons submitted his resignation on Thursday, ending a turbulent 14-month stint running the agency at the centre of President Donald Trump's mass deportation programme.His last day will be 31 May.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed the departure, praising the 20-year ICE veteran. 'Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE and key player in helping theTrump administration remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang membersfrom American communities,' Mullin said in a statement. 'He jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years. Thanks to his leadership, American communities are safer.'
Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE and key player in helping the Trump administration remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from American communities. He jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years. Thanks…
Lyons told colleagues he wants to spend time with his sons, who are 'reaching a pivotal point in their lives,' and return to Massachusetts,CBS Newssaid. He is expected to move to the private sector.
His departure also follows reporting by Politico in March 2026 that Lyons had beenhospitalised at least twice for stress-related issuesover seven months. One episode in September 2025 resulted in an overnight stay after his security detail drove him to the hospital. A second overnight admission came in December in Washington,Newsweekreported.
Politico also reported that Lyons showed signs of physical distress during a separate incident in Los Angeles. Officials told the outlet that they witnessed him turn deep red and break into a heavy sweat under pressure.
Lyons denied the strain came from the White House. 'Any stress is in no way related to pressure from the White House, and nothing will get in the way of me doing my job,' he said at the time.
Lyons took over as acting director in March 2025 after his predecessor, Caleb Vitello, was reassigned less than two months into the role. A former US Air Force special forces member, he joined ICE in 2007 as an agent in Dallas, Texas, and rose through the enforcement ranks before taking command at headquarters.
At a congressional hearing in February, he told lawmakers ICE had made about 379,000 arrests and removed more than 475,000 people during the administration's first year. Separate figures put total deportations closer to 584,000 since Trump's second inauguration, perthe Associated Press.
White House border czar Tom Homan praised Lyons for achieving 'a record number of removals' and called him 'highly respected.' Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller described him as 'a phenomenal patriot.'
Source: International Business Times UK
