US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced on April 16, 2026, that acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons will leave his position on May 31. The announcement follows Lyons' tense testimony before a House Appropriations subcommittee earlier that day, where lawmakers grilled him about record-high detainee deaths and plans to expand detention capacity.
Lyons, appointed as acting director in March 2025 by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, oversaw ICE during a period of intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. His tenure has been marked by growing congressional scrutiny over detention facility conditions and controversial enforcement tactics.
The agency faces mounting pressure as the DHS shutdown enters its third month, with Democrats demanding operational reforms following January's fatal shooting of two Minneapolis residents by federal agents. Republican opposition to these measures has stalled funding negotiations, leaving 240,000 DHS employees furloughed since February.
Advocacy groups have documented 34 detainee deaths in ICE custody since January 2026 – the highest quarterly toll in a decade. Mullin has not yet announced Lyons' replacement, but insiders suggest the Biden administration will prioritize candidates who can navigate both enforcement priorities and congressional oversight demands.
