We’re in the middle of a war with Iran. One of the premier law enforcement agencies that does counter espionage and counterterrorism, the agency that was built after 9/11, isn’t funded. — ICE Director Todd Lyons
Immigration and Customs Enforcement surpassed 589,000 removals and arrested more than 450,000 illegal aliens in the past year alone. To put that in context: under the previous administration, a nationwide operation lasting four to five weeks might yield 300 arrests total.
Those numbers came from outgoing ICE Director Todd Lyons during an interview on The Homeland with Dean Cain, in what amounts to a final operational briefing before Lyons steps down on May 31, 2026.
The Enforcement Gap Between Administrations
Lyons, a 29-year public servant with nearly two decades at ICE, eight years in the Air Force, and additional time in state and local law enforcement, framed the shift bluntly: “President Trump took the handcuffs off of us. We’re actually allowed to enforce the law the way it’s written.”
ICE now arrests between 1,500 and 1,700 people per day. Under President Biden, the agency’s flagship operations celebrated 300 arrests over an entire multi-week cycle.
An estimated 1.5 million people currently hold final orders of deportation. The total number who entered under the prior administration remains unknown, with estimates ranging from 15 million to 21 million.
Sanctuary Jurisdictions: Political Theater with Real Casualties
In New York City, a man allegedly set fire to a building and watched residents jump to their deaths while drinking a beer. A district attorney called it “an act of mass murder.” The city refused to honor an ICE detainer.
“They don’t understand that not cooperating with ICE has a huge public safety impact in our communities,” Lyons said. “It is political theater.”
He pointed to cooperation from states like Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Indiana, and Oklahoma as a model, highlighting Florida’s leadership in the 287(g) program, which deputizes state, county, and local officers to support ICE operations.
The consequences of non-cooperation extend to angel families. Previously deported individuals have returned, been arrested again, had ICE detainers ignored, and then killed someone. Some angel family members are now receiving death threats for speaking publicly.
Why Agents Wore Masks
The controversy over ICE agents wearing masks during operations had a simple explanation: self-defense.
“You didn’t see ICE agents and officers wearing masks like January, February, March,” Lyons said. “It wasn’t until we had elected officials in the House that came out, started calling us Nazis, saying that no ICE agent’s family should have peace.”
An organized effort in Los Angeles saw groups posting agents’ personal information, family photos, and social media accounts on telephone poles near deportation offices. Lyons’ own family remains a target. The agency’s protective intelligence division finds new postings on the dark web regularly, exposing his home address and information about his wife and children.
A $1 Billion Gift Card Scheme and the Criminal Networks It Fed
What began as gift card fraud reported by large retail chains in Baton Rouge became Project Red Hook, an investigation into a billion-dollar Chinese transnational operation.
The scheme worked like this: operatives entered stores and altered gift cards on display racks so that when a customer loaded funds onto the card, the money was diverted. Those funds were used to purchase high-demand American products (Nike, Apple, Ulta), which were warehoused domestically and resold into China at five to ten times their value. The profits funded further transnational criminal activity, including fentanyl precursor acquisition.
Lyons advised consumers to select gift cards from deep in the rack or request cards kept behind the counter, and to report anything suspicious.
HSI Has No Money
Perhaps the most alarming disclosure: Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of ICE responsible for counterterrorism, child exploitation, human trafficking, and cyber crimes, is currently unfunded.
“We’re in the middle of a war with Iran,” Lyons said. “One of the premier law enforcement agencies that does counter espionage and counterterrorism, the agency that was built after 9/11, isn’t funded.”
What stops when the money does: child exploitation investigations, human trafficking operations, intelligence-driven contract tools, personnel travel, vehicle fuel, and preparation for the FIFA World Cup, where HSI is a primary counterterrorism lead. Lyons testified before the Appropriations Committee and said some members of Congress were unaware of the gap.
100,000 Missing Children
ICE and partner agencies are still trying to locate approximately 100,000 unaccompanied children who were placed with unvetted sponsors under the previous administration. Those cases range from labor trafficking to sex trafficking. Meanwhile, the explosion of AI and social media has accelerated predatory access to minors.
Setting the Record Straight
On racial targeting: “Absolutely not.”
On deporting U.S. citizens: “Since I’ve been the ICE director, we have never deported a U.S. citizen.”
U.S. citizens are occasionally arrested during operations, but only when they involve themselves in an active enforcement situation, such as physically interfering with agents. They are identified and released.
Why Lyons Is Leaving
The director’s departure is about family. His oldest son is starting a law enforcement career at 22. His youngest will be a high school senior next year. After 14 months of death threats, doxing, and needing to delete all personal social media to protect his mental health, Lyons wants to be present for the milestones.
“I kind of want to spend time with my family while the weather’s still good,” he said.
His concern for his successor is real: “A lot of people saw what I went through for the past 14 months, and they don’t want to put themselves in that position.”
Watch the full episode on Proud American Studios.
Join Proud American Studios
Join a growing community of Americans who value faith, freedom, and country. Enjoy exclusive programming, member-only events, and a private community—all while saving over 50% with an annual membership.
BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER