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Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to Depart Federal Government in May

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ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to Depart in May 2025

Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons will leave his position and the federal government on May 31, 2025. His departure, confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, creates a leadership vacancy at an agency central to immigration enforcement. Lyons, a veteran of ICE since 2007, has served as acting director since March 2025.

Announcement and Departure Details

The Department of Homeland Security announced the departure on Thursday, May 1, 2025. According to two U.S. officials familiar with his plans, Lyons intends to leave to spend more time with family in Massachusetts and is expected to join the private sector. The agency did not immediately provide a reason for the departure when asked by The Associated Press.

Career Background

Todd Lyons is a two-decade veteran of ICE, having joined the agency in 2007 as an immigration enforcement agent in Dallas, Texas. He rose through various leadership roles, including:

  • Field office director for ICE's Boston region.
  • Assistant director for field operations in the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division.

His appointment as acting director in March 2025 continued a pattern of temporary leadership; ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since early 2017 and has had approximately a dozen acting directors over the past decade.

Official Statements

Officials released the following statements regarding Lyons's tenure:

  • Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated Lyons "has been a great leader of ICE and key player in helping the Trump administration remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members from American communities." He added that Lyons "jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years" and wished him luck in the private sector.
  • White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described Lyons as "a phenomenal patriot and dedicated leader" at the center of "President Trump's historic efforts to secure our homeland."
  • White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson described Lyons on social media as "an American patriot who made our country safer."
  • Tom Homan, described as a former border czar, called Lyons "a highly respected and effective acting Director of ICE."

Key Developments Under Lyons's Tenure

During his time as acting director, several notable policy and operational changes occurred:

  • ICE conducted a recruitment and hiring push for additional deportation agents, funded by approximately $75 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
  • In May 2025, Lyons signed a memo, first obtained by The Associated Press, that authorized ICE agents to enter homes without judicial warrants during certain operations. This represented a shift from previous agency policy.
  • Sources familiar with internal discussions stated that while ICE agents were allowed to arrest anyone determined to be in the U.S. illegally, Lyons internally pushed for operations to prioritize individuals with criminal histories.
  • ICE was involved in high-profile enforcement operations in cities including Chicago and Minneapolis. The Minneapolis operation ended after two American protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, died during encounters with federal immigration officers. Following fatal shootings and backlash, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino was relieved of his command there and has since retired.

Internal Disagreements and External Scrutiny

Sources indicate Lyons at times disagreed internally with some administration decisions, including an effort by former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to elevate Gregory Bovino to lead operations in major U.S. cities.

ICE has faced ongoing scrutiny:

  • Some Democratic lawmakers have called for restraints on the agency or its abolishment, citing concerns over its operations.
  • The agency's methods have been criticized by some members of the public.
  • A February AP-NORC poll indicated that a majority of U.S. adults held an unfavorable view of ICE.
  • During a recent House subcommittee hearing, Lyons faced questions about the protester deaths and declined to apologize for how some administration officials characterized Renee Good, citing an active investigation.

Leadership Transition and Context

Finding a successor to Lyons will be one of the first major decisions for Secretary Mullin, who was confirmed by the Senate last month. The resignation occurs as the Department of Homeland Security is under new leadership following the dismissal of former Secretary Kristi Noem. Secretary Mullin has publicly struck a softer tone on some of the administration's most contentious immigration policies compared to his predecessor.