ICE Director Sounds Alarm Over Political Rhetoric and Risks to Agents

Todd Lyons, the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), issued a strong warning this week about the rising dangers his agents face — dangers he attributes to heated political rhetoric and growing public misconceptions fueled by media narratives.

In an interview with The Washington Times, Lyons said ICE is being undermined not only by local sanctuary policies but also by what he called a campaign of misinformation that paints federal immigration officers as villains rather than law enforcers.

Political Climate Threatens Safety and Effectiveness

Lyons did not mince words when discussing the impact of political discourse on ICE operations. According to him, hostile language from politicians and media outlets — particularly those on the left — has created a dangerous environment for agents in the field.

“This kind of rhetoric has consequences,” Lyons said. “It fuels hostility toward our officers, increases the risk of physical confrontations, and makes it harder for us to do our jobs safely and effectively.”

He explained that many people now believe misleading portrayals of ICE operations, including false claims that agents target U.S. citizens or conduct raids on schools. Lyons clarified that the agency’s core mission remains focused on individuals in the country unlawfully, not on American citizens or innocent children.

“Much of the public thinks we’re hunting down kids or going after families. That’s simply not true,” Lyons said. “Our teams are often trying to locate missing unaccompanied minors who were released into the U.S. without proper oversight.”

A Crisis of Unaccompanied Minors

Lyons highlighted a major challenge ICE currently faces: tracking unaccompanied migrant children. Since the beginning of the Biden administration, roughly 500,000 minors have crossed the border without parents or guardians, creating a massive strain on immigration infrastructure.

“These children are often released to sponsors without thorough vetting due to the overwhelming numbers,” he said. “It’s led to unsafe environments for some of these kids, and our agency is doing all it can to track them and ensure their wellbeing.”

A report from the Department of Homeland Security inspector general cited tens of thousands of cases where children’s whereabouts were lost due to gaps in the tracking system. Lyons stated that as of July, ICE had located about 13,000 of these minors and continues working to find more.

Public backlash has sometimes erupted when ICE agents are seen near schools or community centers — places where missing children may have been reported. Lyons said these encounters are often misunderstood and made worse by politically charged media framing.

The Challenge of Sanctuary Policies

In addition to public perception issues, Lyons said ICE operations are increasingly hampered by sanctuary jurisdictions — areas where local governments limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

“These policies create barriers that prevent us from doing our jobs efficiently,” Lyons said. “Our agents are being redirected away from serious criminal investigations because local jurisdictions won’t share information.”

He warned that such policies not only make it harder to remove individuals with outstanding deportation orders but also embolden resistance against lawful enforcement efforts. Lyons said agents have been harassed or threatened in public because of growing mistrust.

“We’ve seen officers followed, filmed, or confronted during operations,” he noted. “That kind of interference endangers everyone involved.”

Misinformation and Media Narratives

According to Lyons, much of the tension surrounding ICE stems from misrepresentation in the public sphere. He accused some politicians and media figures of spreading exaggerated or false claims about the agency’s work.

“When public officials refer to our agents as ‘thugs’ or ‘kidnappers,’ it’s not just political theater — it creates real-world consequences,” he said. “People start to believe that narrative and act on it.”

Lyons stressed that ICE is a law enforcement agency tasked with upholding federal immigration law — not political agendas.

“We enforce the laws passed by Congress. This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about public safety,” he said.

Rebuilding Public Trust

To counter the negative perceptions, Lyons said ICE is expanding efforts to educate the public and promote transparency. The agency is working with local communities, sharing facts about their operations, and seeking to correct misconceptions.

“We want people to know the truth — that our agents are focused on enforcing immigration laws and protecting vulnerable individuals, including children,” he said.

He also urged local leaders to work with ICE rather than against it, pointing out that collaboration improves safety for everyone.

“We can do much more when local and federal agencies cooperate,” he said. “But when politics gets in the way, it’s the public that suffers.”

A Divided National Debate

Lyons’ remarks come as immigration policy remains a deeply polarizing issue in the U.S. Supporters of ICE say federal enforcement is essential to border security and national safety, while critics argue that the agency’s actions can harm vulnerable populations.

Despite differing views, Lyons made it clear that the politicization of immigration enforcement is putting lives at risk — not just of migrants, but of the officers charged with enforcing the law.

“Words matter,” he said. “We’re asking for a return to facts and a recognition that our agents are trying to do what the law requires — nothing more, nothing less.”