ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said Sunday that while the agency will prioritize arresting criminal migrants, any individual in the U.S. illegally could face deportation under the Trump administration’s broader immigration strategy.
Speaking on CBS' Face the Nation, Lyons emphasized a return to more aggressive enforcement, especially in sanctuary cities. “If ICE officers encounter others illegally present during operations, we will take them into custody,” he said, confirming that “collateral arrests” are part of current policy.
Lyons criticized sanctuary jurisdictions for forcing ICE into neighborhoods instead of allowing jail transfers, and revealed that over half of current ICE detainees face criminal charges or convictions. He noted U.S. systems often miss foreign criminal records, citing Interpol Red Notices.
With increased funding, Lyons said deportations could hit the administration’s goal of 1 million annually. He also defended agents wearing face masks during operations for safety reasons amid new Democrat-led legislation to restrict such practices.
