Todd Lyons hospitalized twice in 7 months after being 'visibly upset' during ICE duties

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Todd Lyons, the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has reportedly been hospitalized at least twice due to stress while working on President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. 

According to multiple officials, the workload and pressure have made it harder for him to stay on top of major decisions within the agency. Lyons has offered a different explanation, stating the stress he experienced was not connected to the White House.

He said he has been working nonstop to address what he described as problems left behind by former President Joe Biden.

Todd Lyons faces stress, raising concerns about his health

As per Politico, in one incident during a ride-along in Los Angeles, agents could not locate a migrant on their target list, and Lyons became dejected. “He would be visibly upset and struggling to make the decisions that were needed to be made by the director,” said one former official.

The situation escalated further, with a bodyguard even bringing a portable defibrillator from a nearby government office just in case Lyons needed medical attention. Officials said the pressure was visible on him. They described moments when he was sweating, his face turned red, and he looked under strain while trying to manage everything.

The hospital visits reportedly occurred over the past several months. In December, Lyons was taken to a hospital in Washington by his security team and stayed overnight. Another incident reportedly took place in September 2025, when he was also admitted for at least one night.

There were also reports of tense calls with senior administration figures, with some officials saying the push to increase deportations added to the pressure.

Lyons, however, has made it clear he does not see the White House as the source of his stress. “Since the beginning of this administration, I have worked night and day, all day, every day to undo the harms Joe Biden has caused to the American people,” he said.

He also added, “Any stress is in no way related to pressure from the White House, and nothing will get in the way of me doing my job.”

Leadership changes reshape ICE under Trump

Since Trump's second term, ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have seen several leadership changes. Caleb Vitello was reassigned and later replaced by Lyons. Greg Bovino was moved back to California after previously leading operations in Minnesota. Former Oklahoma GOP Senator Markwayne Mullin also took on a new oversight role. 

“The day that bill passed, the ICE director job did not look the way that it ever did before,” said one former administration official. The person added, “He had resources to do anything he wanted, and he was stuck in the same orbit that he had always been in and was tasked with this new massive mission.”