Todd Lyons, who led the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, has joined a private consulting firm in a senior role focused on national security and immigration matters.

Lyons left ICE on May 31 after serving as the agency's acting director since March 2025, when President Donald Trump appointed him. He replaced Caleb Vitello in the position, according to NBC News.

His new job is senior vice president for U.S. homeland security and international affairs, NPR Illinois reported. The firm was not named in early reports.

What Lyons did at ICE

Lyons ran ICE during an unusually demanding period. The Trump administration pushed for aggressive immigration enforcement, which meant ICE made more arrests and expanded detention operations. That put Lyons in the middle of coordinating with other agencies, testifying before Congress, and dealing with lawsuits.

Why this job matters

Senior government officials often move to consulting and contracting firms after they leave office. These former officials help the firms advise clients and bid on federal contracts. They bring experience and connections that private companies need.

Lyons's background running a large agency during a politically intense period makes him valuable to firms that work with the Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies on security and defense issues.

The pattern of officials moving from government to private firms that work with government is long-standing. Several former ICE directors and acting directors have taken advisory, lobbying, or executive jobs at firms that do business with federal agencies. Lyons's move fits that pattern.

The vacancy

As of June 16, 2026, DHS had not announced Lyons's successor. ICE employs about 20,000 people and plays a central role in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement plans. The agency will likely face pressure from Congress and from operational needs to fill the top job soon.