ICE Chief Todd Lyons to Leave Government at End of May
Acting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief Todd Lyons will leave the federal government at the end of May. His last day in office will be 31 May, after which he will move to the private sector, according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been a central part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Human rights organizations, however, say those measures violated free speech and due process rights.
The crackdown also sparked protests after the fatal shooting of two US citizens by ICE agents in Minnesota. Experts warned that the agency’s actions have created an unsafe environment, particularly for minorities.
Trump says the policy is necessary to bolster security and curb illegal immigration. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has been effectively paralyzed for more than two months, as Congress has not agreed on funding.
Prosecutors in Minnesota have charged an ICE agent with assault after an incident in which he allegedly pointed a gun at civilians. According to investigators, this is the first such charge linked to the immigration crackdown.