Lyons' Departure
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons will resign at the end of May, according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Lyons submitted his resignation letter on Thursday. Mullin announced Lyons' departure on X, saying May 31 would be his last day.
Lyons will depart for a new role in the private sector. He said in his letter he wants to spend more time with his family, including his sons.
Praise and Criticism
Secretary Mullin said, "Director Lyons has been a great leader of ICE." White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson described Lyons as "an American patriot who made our country safer" in a post on X. Trump's border czar Tom Homan described Lyons as serving selflessly and "a highly respected and effective acting Director of ICE."
Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, called Lyons a "dedicated leader" whose "courageous work at ICE has saved countless thousands of American lives."
ICE Under Lyons
According to Fox News, Lyons oversaw roughly 584,000 ICE deportations since President Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term last year. Under his leadership, ICE was granted a massive infusion of cash through Congress, which it used to expand hiring and detention capabilities.
ICE has faced scrutiny over the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January. Lyons declined to apologize for the way some Trump administration officials characterized Good as an agitator, saying he would welcome the opportunity to speak to the family in private.
Sanctuary City Conflict
DHS claims that New York City's sanctuary policies could result in the release of Roman Ceron Amatitla, a Mexican national illegal alien charged with setting a New York City apartment building on fire. The fire on March 16 killed four people and injured seven others. DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said New York City sanctuary politicians refuse to cooperate with ICE and are choosing to release this murderer onto New York streets.
Fox News further reports that DHS said New York's failure to honor ICE detainers has resulted in the release of 6,947 people from January 20 to December 1, who are accused of crimes including 29 homicides, 2,509 assaults, and 207 sexual predatory offenses.
Leadership Void
Lyons' expected departure will create a leadership void at the helm of an agency that has become a flashpoint over its central role in President Trump's nationwide operation to deport millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. For nearly a decade, ICE has had a dozen acting directors, lacking a Senate-confirmed head since early 2017. CBS News reports that Lyons joined ICE in 2007 as an agent in Dallas.
Finding a successor for Lyons will be one of the first major decisions for Secretary Mullin, who was confirmed by the Senate last month after Mr. Trump ousted Kristi Noem.
The CBS News article adds that Lyons is a two-decade veteran of ICE, and prior to becoming acting director, he rose to the No. 2 spot in ICE's Dallas field office and directed the agency's Boston region.