Todd Lyons, who ran U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has taken a job at a private consulting firm focused on homeland security and defense, according to NPR Illinois.

Lyons left ICE on May 31, after holding the top position for about three months. President Donald Trump appointed him to lead the agency in March 2025, and he took over from Caleb Vitello, NBC News reported.

His new title is senior vice president for U.S. homeland security and international affairs. The role puts him on the consulting side of the national security industry, advising clients rather than running a government agency.

What Lyons Dealt With at ICE

Lyons's time running ICE was intense. The Trump administration pushed for aggressive immigration enforcement, which meant more arrests and expanded detention operations. As the agency's top leader, Lyons oversaw coordination between federal agencies, answered questions from Congress, and dealt with dozens of lawsuits challenging the administration's policies.

The Private Sector Move

The movement of former senior government officials into consulting and contracting jobs is common in Washington. People who have run major agencies or departments have experience and connections that private firms value. Many of these firms work with the federal government directly — either bidding on contracts or advising clients on policy. Lyons's experience running ICE during a period of significant activity makes him attractive to firms in this space.

As of June 16, 2026, no permanent replacement for Lyons has been announced. ICE has roughly 20,000 employees and handles a central part of the administration's immigration enforcement work. The gap in leadership puts pressure on the Department of Homeland Security to name a successor soon, given congressional oversight and ongoing operational needs.