On Sunday, Todd Lyons, who serves as the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stated that local sanctuary policies and a lack of cooperation with federal immigration authorities are leading to heightened risks for officers and creating strains on law enforcement nationwide. He remarked, “You’ll never see so many ICE agents and special agents on the streets,” particularly in areas deemed sanctuary jurisdictions. These agents are primarily concentrating on missions related to illegal criminal activity, aiming to facilitate the transfer of individuals to ICE custody.
Lyons revealed that last year, around 70% of the individuals arrested by ICE had previous convictions, pending charges, or criminal histories from their home countries. He emphasized that ICE’s focus is on those who cannot leave the U.S. due to outstanding deportation orders from immigration judges.
He questioned the rationale behind local law enforcement detaining individuals deemed dangerous but not collaborating with federal agencies to remove them from communities. Lyons also admonished local officials for perpetuating negative rhetoric surrounding ICE.
Concerning the situation in Minneapolis, where tensions have escalated following the death of Renee Good, Lyons mentioned that many federal agents dispatched to the area are there for their protection while executing arrests. He indicated that the team size has notably increased as more personnel are assigned.
Reflecting on his three decades in law enforcement, Lyons expressed concern over needing to provide protection for law enforcement officers. He suggested that if local and state officials worked in tandem with federal forces, many ongoing issues could be alleviated.
He further criticized elected officials for their instinctive assumptions regarding ICE’s actions and disputed claims that ICE targets American citizens. According to Lyons, there have been instances of ICE officers experiencing attacks simply for performing their duties in the field.
In response to ongoing skirmishes between civilians and ICE agents, particularly in Minnesota, President Trump has hinted at utilizing the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. troops unless local authorities intensify measures against those protesting against ICE operations. A senior official confirmed that about 1,500 troops are on standby for mobilization, specifically from the U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division, which specializes in cold weather and mountainous environments.
