Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons was hospitalized at least twice last year for stress-related issues amid demands to ramp up deportations.

Lyons, who has led ICE since replacing Caleb Vitello in early 2025, oversees nearly 28,000 employees and a multibillion-dollar budget. He joined the agency in 2007 as an enforcement agent and rose through the ranks. The hospitalizations occurred in September, when he stayed overnight, and December, after his security detail rushed him to a Washington, D.C., hospital. Officials described him as breaking into a full sweat with his face turning deep red, appearing visibly upset, and struggling with decisions.

The stress stemmed from intense White House pressure to meet aggressive deportation targets set by President Trump. Daily 10 a.m. calls with Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller often turned heated, with Miller yelling at Lyons over low arrest numbers and strategy disagreements, according to four participants. Corey Lewandowski, an adviser to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, also berated Lyons during 7 a.m. calls, per two officials. In summer 2025, Lyons grew distressed during a Los Angeles ride-along when agents failed to locate a target migrant; a bodyguard fetched a portable defibrillator as a precaution.

ICE has deported more than 700,000 unauthorized immigrants under Lyons, though daily arrests averaged 1,100 this year, short of the 3,000 goal. The agency received massive funding boosts via last summer's megabill, transforming its resources, but Lyons' deliberate decision-making style drew criticism amid operational challenges like lawsuits and scrutiny from Democrats.

Lyons denied that White House pressure caused his issues. "Any stress is in no way related to pressure from the White House, and nothing will get in the way of me doing my job," he said. DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis stated Lyons has a "great relationship" with Miller and the team, working to remove public safety threats and reverse Biden-era policies. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson called the Politico report "inaccurate trash," praising Lyons as a patriot.

Administration officials described Miller's style as passionate accountability, likening calls to heated business meetings. Three senior figures disputed yelling claims, emphasizing the high-stakes mission to secure borders. Lyons remains in his role, listed on ICE's leadership page as of February 2026.

The report, published Friday by Politico, highlights ongoing tensions in executing Trump's immigration agenda despite personnel shake-ups, including Noem's replacement by Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary.