The man leading the charge for President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda is officially hanging up the badge.
Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will resign on May 31, 2026.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed the news on Thursday, praising Lyons for making communities "safer" before wishing him luck in the private sector.
While the official line is a peaceful transition, the timing is anything but quiet. Lyons has been the lightning rod for an agency flush with cash but drowning in public backlash.
Under Lyons’ watch, ICE transformed into a well-funded machine, ramping up arrests and expanding detention centers nationwide.
He famously authorized a memo giving officers the power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, a move that sparked legal firestorms.
However, his tenure was also marked by tragedy.
High-profile operations in Chicago and Minneapolis ended in disaster after federal officers killed two American protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Just this week, Lyons sat before a House subcommittee, refusing to apologize for the characterization of those killed while citing "active investigations."
His exit marks the second major leadership shakeup at the Department of Homeland Security recently, following the firing of former Secretary Kristi Noem.
With Stephen Miller calling him a "courageous leader" and critics calling for his head, Lyons leaves behind an agency that is wealthier, more powerful, and more divided than ever.
Who takes over the hot seat next is anyone’s guess, but they will inherit an agency that remains the ultimate flashpoint in American politics.
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