ICE Director Todd Lyons To Step Down After Overseeing Major Deportation Push

Acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, is set to leave the agency after overseeing one of the largest deportation surges in recent U.S. history.

Lyons, who has spent roughly two decades with ICE and previously served in the U.S. Air Force, will step down on May 31, according to Markwayne Mullin. His tenure included the removal of approximately 584,000 individuals as part of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement efforts.

Mullin praised Lyons’ leadership, crediting him with helping to revitalize enforcement operations and prioritizing the removal of individuals identified as public safety threats. Other administration officials also highlighted his role in advancing immigration policy goals during his time in charge.

Lyons had previously indicated he planned to retire within a few years, and sources familiar with his decision said he is stepping away in part to spend more time with his family after an extended period of high-intensity work.

White House officials described Lyons as a key figure in the administration’s immigration strategy, while border policy leaders pointed to record enforcement activity during his tenure. Tom Homan credited Lyons with leading ICE through operational challenges while increasing deportation numbers.

Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller also commended Lyons’ work, describing him as central to efforts aimed at strengthening border enforcement and interior immigration operations.

Lyons’ departure comes as immigration enforcement remains a central focus of federal policy, with questions remaining about who will succeed him and how the agency’s direction may evolve in the months ahead.