Acting ICE director Todd Lyons to leave agency

Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement director https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/ice-2026-fifa-world-cup-lyons-trump" target="_blank">Todd Lyons submitted his resignation on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed.

Why it matters: Lyons has defended ICE's conduct https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/ice-border-patrol-lyons-scott-trump-house-panel" target="_blank">in Congress and https://www.axios.com/2026/01/28/ice-director-trump-hearing-canceled-todd-lyons" target="_blank">the courtroom as the agency faces scrutiny over President Trump's mass deportation drive.

• The scrutiny has been particularly focused on the fatal shootings of U.S. citizenshttps://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-shooting-victim-identified-renee-nicole-good-minneapolis" target="_self"> Renee Good and https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/trump-officials-stick-terrorist-label-on-americans-killed-by-dhs" target="_self">Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January.

Driving the news: The ICE https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/118240/witnesses/HHRG-119-AP15-Bio-LyonsT-20250514.pdf" target="_blank">veteran said in a letter to Mullin that he's resigning to take a job in the private sector, Fox News first https://www.foxnews.com/politics/acting-ice-director-todd-lyons-submits-resignation-letter-dhs-secretary-markwayne-mullin" target="_blank">reported.

• He will remain in the role until May 31 so he can help with the transition process.

What they're saying: "Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE," Mullin said in an emailed statement.

• "Thanks to his leadership, American communities are safer."

Go deeper: https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" target="_blank">ICE deported 442k people in fiscal year 2025