The Trump administration has seen a significant shakeup with one of its most prominent immigration officials announcing his resignation.

Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), today submitted his resignation letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. In his letter, Lyons stated he will remain in his role until May 31 to assist with the transition process, citing family reasons as his primary motivation.

Lyons, a 20-year ICE veteran and former Air Force member, has been instrumental in President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda since assuming the acting director role in March 2025. Under his leadership, ICE has processed over 570,000 deportations in a single year, while also managing a record hiring surge of approximately 12,000 new employees and maintaining a high detention population.

The resignation comes shortly after Lyons completed testimony on Capitol Hill.

In the letter, Lyons expressed his desire to spend more time with his family, noting that his sons are “reaching a pivotal point in their lives.” He also described his tenure as an honor under President Trump’s administration.

Homeland Security Secretary Mullin praised Lyons’ work, stating he has “jumpstarted an agency that had not been allowed to do its job for four years.”

Additionally, Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, issued a statement calling Lyons a “phenomenal patriot and dedicated leader” who has been central to efforts to secure the homeland.

The administration has yet to name a successor for Lyons’ position. ICE has operated without a Senate-confirmed director for nearly a decade, and the next official will inherit one of the most aggressive deportation operations in the agency’s history.

Lyons is scheduled to leave his role after May 31, marking a transition period as he prepares for what he described as a move into the private sector.