The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, has issued a sharp warning about the rising dangers created by political rhetoric and misleading media narratives. In a recent interview with The Washington Times, Lyons said that anti-ICE protests, misinformation, and sanctuary policies are putting officers and vulnerable migrant children at risk — and making it harder for the agency to do its job.
Political Rhetoric and Real-World Impact
Lyons didn’t hold back when addressing what he called a “toxic atmosphere” surrounding immigration enforcement. He accused some politicians and media outlets of spreading misinformation that fuels public hostility toward ICE.
Immigration legal services
“This rhetoric isn’t just talk — it’s creating real danger for our officers,” Lyons said. “They’re being vilified for enforcing federal law, and that makes their jobs and our mission much harder.”He stressed that ICE’s operations are often misunderstood, noting that agents are not “raiding schools” or targeting U.S. citizens. Instead, many of their recent missions involve locating unaccompanied migrant children who have disappeared after entering the U.S.