“A Season of Sacrifice Ends”: Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons Resigns After Overseeing 584,000 Deportations Under Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons formally submitted his resignation letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Thursday, announcing he will remain in his post through May 31, 2026, to ensure a smooth transition, Fox News has confirmed. According to a source familiar with the letter, Lyons cited a desire to spend more time with his family—particularly his sons, who are “reaching a pivotal point in their lives”—as the driving reason for his departure. Lyons, a 20-year veteran of ICE and former U.S. Air Force special forces member, has overseen approximately 584,000 ICE deportations since President Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term in 2025. His tenure marked one of the most aggressive enforcement periods in the agency’s history, focusing on the removal of individuals identified as public safety threats, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists, and gang members.

In a statement, Secretary Mullin praised Lyons as “a great leader of ICE and a key player in helping the Trump administration remove dangerous criminals from American communities,” adding that “thanks to his leadership, American communities are safer.” Trump border czar Tom Homan echoed the sentiment, commending Lyons for serving “selflessly” and achieving “a record number of removals in the first year of this Administration despite unprecedented challenges.” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller called Lyons “a phenomenal patriot and dedicated leader” whose “courageous work has saved countless thousands of American lives.” Mullin concluded with well wishes for Lyons’ next chapter in the private sector, stating, “His last day is May 31, 2026.” The resignation marks the end of a pivotal chapter for ICE as the agency prepares for new leadership amid ongoing national debates over immigration enforcement.