The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, will leave his post on May 31, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced Thursday, without specifying the reasons for his departure or the name of his successor. This announcement comes amid significant tensions surrounding this federal agency responsible for U.S. immigration policy.
Todd Lyons, appointed to head the ICE in March 2025 by the president Donald TrumpHe was a veteran of the agency, which he joined in 2007 in Texas. In a statement, Markwayne Mullin praised him as "an excellent leader," wishing him "good luck in his future career in the private sector."
ICE plays a central role in the Trump administration's anti-immigration strategy. But its methods, regularly denounced as brutal, have drawn widespread criticism across the country. In January, the deaths of two people in Minneapolis, shot by federal agents during an operation, reignited the controversies surrounding the agency.
Despite these criticisms, Todd Lyons enjoys the support of key figures in the executive branch. Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff and architect of the president's immigration policy, called him a "phenomenal patriot" and a "dedicated leader," believing that his actions had "saved countless American lives."
Todd Lyons' departure comes as ICE finds itself at the heart of a political standoff in Congress. Democratic lawmakers are demanding greater oversight of the agency's practices before agreeing to the restoration of its regular funding, suggesting a delicate succession at the head of this powerful yet controversial institution.
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