Acting US ICE Head Todd Lyons Plans to Leave Agency This Spring, CBS News Reports
April 16, 2026
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - The acting head of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to leave the federal government...
Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons is set to leave the agency in late spring, creating a leadership vacancy at a critical time for the federal law enforcement body. Lyons, who has been at the helm of ICE since March 2025, will officially depart on May 31, according to a statement from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Associates of Lyons indicated he plans to leave government service to spend more time with his family in Massachusetts and is expected to take a position in the private sector.
Lyons' departure comes after more than a year of leading the agency through a period of intensified immigration enforcement. Appointed in March 2025, he has been a key figure in executing the administration's nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration. A veteran of the agency for two decades, Lyons rose through the ranks from an enforcement agent in Dallas to leadership roles at ICE headquarters. His tenure has been marked by a significant increase in arrests and a push to expand the agency's workforce, backed by substantial government funding.
The period of Lyons' leadership has not been without controversy. The agency's aggressive tactics in several U.S. cities have led to protests and legal challenges. Notably, ICE's operations came under intense scrutiny following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents during protests in Minneapolis. Lyons also faced a court summons from a federal judge over concerns that the agency was not complying with directives related to the rights of detainees. Just before his resignation was announced, Lyons testified before a House subcommittee, where he was questioned about the agency's budget and enforcement priorities.
The departure of Lyons will present an immediate challenge for the Department of Homeland Security, which has seen its own recent leadership changes. Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who was confirmed last month after the ousting of his predecessor Kristi Noem, will now be tasked with finding a successor for the high-profile position. The new appointment will be one of Mullin's first major decisions as he takes charge of the sprawling department.
Finding a permanent leader for ICE has been a persistent issue, with the agency lacking a Senate-confirmed director since early 2017. Lyons is one of a dozen acting directors who have led the agency in the intervening years. His exit leaves a void at the top of an organization central to the nation's ongoing and deeply polarizing debate over immigration policy. The selection of his replacement will be closely watched as an indicator of the future direction of immigration enforcement.
Source: usnews