Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons submitted his resignation letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Thursday, with his last day set for May 31. In the letter, Lyons stated he wants to spend more time with his family as his sons reach pivotal points in their lives.

Lyons, a career ICE officer, joined the agency in 2007 as an enforcement agent in Dallas after serving in the U.S. Air Force. He advanced through leadership roles, including field office director in Boston overseeing New England operations, before President Donald Trump appointed him acting ICE director on March 9, 2025, following the reassignment of Caleb Vitello.

During his tenure, Lyons oversaw ICE's implementation of Trump's mass deportation agenda, achieving 379,000 arrests and more than 475,000 removals in the first year alone. Operations targeted illegal immigrants in Democratic-led cities, contributing to efforts to secure the border and reverse prior immigration policies. Lyons compared the enforcement process to efficient business operations, likening it to Amazon Prime deliveries at a 2025 expo.

His leadership drew controversy, including public outrage over raids and two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January 2026: Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Lyons also faced threats against ICE personnel, including his own family, and was hospitalized at least twice for stress-related issues between October 2025 and March 2026. In February 2026, he refused demands to resign from Rep. Eric Swalwell during a House hearing.

Mullin praised Lyons as a great leader who made communities safer and wished him well in the private sector. White House border czar Tom Homan commended his record removals and career. Stephen Miller called him a phenomenal patriot central to homeland security efforts. A White House spokesperson described Lyons as an American patriot who made the country safer.

The resignation comes shortly after Mullin took over as DHS secretary following the firing of Kristi Noem. No successor has been named, leaving questions about ICE's future direction amid ongoing enforcement priorities.