White House Controversy Report About ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons Hospitalization
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The White House has strongly disputed a POLITICO report published Thursday that claims acting ICE Director Todd Lyons has been hospitalized multiple times in recent months as he works to implement the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.
The report cited current and former officials who described Lyons as under great pressure, while the White House publicly rejected the account and defended its leadership.
“He would appear distressed and struggle to make decisions that needed to be made by the director,” said one former executive, according to the report.
“Shame on Politico for publishing inaccurate garbage,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in response.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said Friday that newly reviewed video evidence suggests that officials may have made “false statements” under oath about the Jan. 14 standoff, in which a Venezuelan man was shot. (Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images and John Moore/Getty Images)
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The report described at least two hospitalizations over a seven-month period, including one incident in Washington, DC, and another episode in early fall, according to multiple unnamed officials cited in the article.
Additional claims in the report described a separate moment in Los Angeles when Lyons allegedly became depressed while working in law enforcement, causing those close to him to worry about his condition.
Lyons, who led Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the expansion of enforcement priorities under President Donald Trump, denied the description of the events and denied that any pressure he received was related to the White House.
“Any stress has absolutely nothing to do with pressure from the White House, and nothing will distract me from doing my job,” Lyons said in a statement sent to POLITICO.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, left; Attorney Eric Swalwell, right. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Al Drago/Getty Images)
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The POLITICO report also cited allegations by some officials that senior counsel Stephen Miller applied pressure during internal calls about deportation policies, though others disputed that claim and described his tone as “passionate” rather than extreme.
Officials cited in the report said the administration has set a goal of significantly increasing daily deportations, and ICE is currently averaging fewer arrests than its stated goals.
“That will create a lot of psychological pressure,” said one official, explaining the demands placed on the leadership.
Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) testifies during the House Committee on Homeland Security Oversight Affairs of the Department of Homeland Security: ICE CBP and USCIS, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
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Jackson, responding directly to the report, emphasized Lyons’ role in advancing the administration’s priorities and criticized the agency for publishing the story despite officials denying it.
“Todd Lyons is an American patriot who has worked tirelessly to reverse Biden’s immigration policies that have wreaked havoc on American communities,” he said.
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The White House also highlighted internal support for Lyons, with officials describing his working relationship with senior leadership as strong and collaborative.
Fox News Digital has reached out to POLITICO for comment.
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