Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons Resigns, Citing Family, Amid Mass Deportation Scrutiny

Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement who oversaw the Trump administration's most aggressive deportation campaign in the agency's history, announced Thursday that he will resign effective May 31. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed the departure in a statement praising Lyons as a "great leader" who had been "instrumental in removing dangerous criminals" from the country.

Lyons, a career federal law enforcement officer, led ICE through a tumultuous period that included record arrest numbers, multiple deaths in agency custody, and the shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in January 2026. In an internal memo obtained by CNN, Lyons wrote that his decision was "the right one for me and my family," adding that he and his wife were "looking forward to spending as much time as possible" with their sons. White House border czar Tom Homan called Lyons a dedicated patriot who had delivered results, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller praised him as "a phenomenal patriot."

The resignation comes as ICE faces intense scrutiny from civil rights groups, congressional Democrats, and immigration attorneys who have challenged the legality of several high-profile deportations. Federal courts have issued dozens of injunctions against agency actions since February, and at least three House committees have launched or expanded investigations into agency conduct. The DHS Inspector General has also opened a review into the January citizen shootings.

Lyons' departure adds to a growing list of leadership changes at the Department of Homeland Security. Other recent exits include Madison Sheahan, former ICE deputy director, who left in January to run for Congress, and top department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, who departed in February. Mullin himself replaced Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary only last month. ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration, meaning the succession path remains unclear and the position will again be filled on an acting basis.

The record-long DHS funding shutdown, now in its 60th day, adds further instability to an already turbulent leadership environment. Senate-passed legislation to end the shutdown has stalled in the House, where far-right Republicans have demanded ICE and Border Patrol funding be included in any deal. Republicans are now pursuing a reconciliation bill that would fund immigration enforcement while bypassing Democratic opposition, with leadership hoping the measure reaches President Trump's desk by June 1. Critics from both parties have warned that continued leadership churn at ICE could undermine the very enforcement priorities the administration claims are its top priority.