Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons submitted his resignation letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Thursday, announcing he will leave his position by May 31 and intends to spend more time with his family.
In a statement, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin praised Lyons’ leadership, noting he had been instrumental in the Trump administration’s efforts to remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from American communities. “Director Lyons jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years,” Mullin stated. He added, “Thanks to his leadership, American communities are safer.” The statement also confirmed Lyons’ final day will be May 31, 2026, and expressed good wishes for Lyons’ future in the private sector.
Lyons has overseen approximately 584,000 ICE deportations since President Trump’s second term began last year. He has served in ICE for two decades and previously was a special forces operative with the U.S. Air Force. A replacement for Lyons remains uncertain as the agency has not had a Senate-confirmed leader since the Obama administration.
Earlier this week, Lyons testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee regarding the unprecedented number of deaths in ICE custody and future plans for detention facilities.