ICE director Todd Lyons resigns

The departure of the nation's top immigration enforcement official comes as ICE faces intense scrutiny over a record number of detainee deaths and high-profile shootings in Minnesota.

Lyons had been a central figure in the administration's 'shock-and-awe' immigration crackdown, which saw the agency's force double in size within a year.

His resignation follows a series of contentious congressional hearings where he defended the agency's conduct and qualifications of new hires.

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet announced a permanent successor for the role.