Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has resigned from his post, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced Thursday. Lyons will remain in the role through May 31 to oversee the transition.
The ICE veteran cited a private sector opportunity in his resignation letter, first reported by Fox News. Mullin praised Lyons' tenure, stating that his leadership made American communities safer.
Lyons departs as the agency faces intense scrutiny over enforcement operations tied to the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda. The pressure has intensified following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis this January. Both cases drew questions about ICE conduct and operations.
Throughout his tenure, Lyons has vigorously defended the agency's actions before Congress and in courts, mounting a legal and political defense against mounting criticism. The departing director leaves at a moment when ICE deportations have reached significant levels, with the agency removing 442,000 people in fiscal year 2025.
Author James Rodriguez: "Lyons' exit timing is notable, given he was left holding the bag on some of the administration's most controversial enforcement moments."
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