Todd Lyons, who previously served as the assistant director of field operations, has been appointed as the acting ICE director, with Madison Sheahan, a former aide to Noem, stepping in as deputy director.

Noem emphasized the need to utilize all available authorities to enforce immigration laws effectively, aligning closely with President Trump's administration's agenda.

These leadership changes come amid frustrations within the Trump administration regarding the slow pace of deportations and immigration arrests, which officials attribute to leaks about planned operations.

On March 9, 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced new leadership for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pledging to enhance security measures, including increased lie detector tests for employees to combat media leaks.

Lyons, who has been with ICE since 2007 and has experience across various presidential administrations, is expected to adopt a tougher stance on immigration enforcement, particularly in Massachusetts.

The DHS did not provide immediate comments regarding the situation surrounding the leadership changes and the ongoing investigations into leaks.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiated polygraph tests to identify employees leaking information about immigration operations, reflecting a commitment to national security.

Noem revealed that two individuals have been identified as leakers and are facing prosecution, with potential sentences of up to ten years in federal prison for their actions.

The Trump administration aims to ramp up deportations, with ICE instructed to conduct between 1,200 and 1,500 immigration arrests daily.

To bolster enforcement efforts against illegal immigration, Noem confirmed plans to expand immigration detention operations using Fort Bliss, a military base in Texas.

While polygraph results are not admissible in court, they are commonly used by federal agencies to vet employees and ensure national security.

Amid staffing pressures from the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services has offered a $25,000 voluntary separation incentive to employees.