ICE Chief Todd Lyons Set to Step Down This Spring After Leading Deportation Drive

Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is expected to leave his position later this spring after more than a year overseeing the agency during President Donald Trump’s intensified deportation campaign, according to U.S. officials.

A longtime ICE officer with over two decades of service, Lyons has informed colleagues of his plan to exit the agency by June to focus on his family in Massachusetts. He is also expected to transition into a role in the private sector after his departure.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed that Lyons’ final day in office will be May 31, praising his leadership and contributions. Mullin credited Lyons with strengthening ICE operations and supporting efforts to remove individuals deemed dangerous from U.S. communities.

Lyons’ exit leaves uncertainty at the top of ICE, an agency that has faced ongoing leadership instability. It has not had a Senate-confirmed director since 2017 and has cycled through multiple acting heads in recent years. Lyons himself assumed the role in March 2025.

Selecting his successor will be among the first major decisions for Mullin, who recently took office following leadership changes at the Department of Homeland Security.

During his tenure, Lyons played a central role in executing the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, which has sparked both strong support and sharp criticism. While he publicly backed the crackdown, sources say he sometimes pushed internally for a focus on individuals with criminal records rather than broader enforcement actions.

The agency has come under scrutiny from lawmakers and advocacy groups over its tactics, including controversial operations in major cities and policies allowing warrantless home entries in certain cases. Funding disputes tied to demands for reforms have also contributed to a partial government shutdown.

Despite the controversies, Lyons has received praise from top administration officials. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller described him as a committed leader, while border adviser Tom Homan commended his years of service.

Lyons began his career with ICE in 2007 in Dallas and rose through the ranks, eventually holding senior leadership roles in both field operations and headquarters.