ICE Chief Hospitalized Twice Due to Stress, Report Says

Todd Lyons has faced intense pressure from the White House over deportation figures, sources claim.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 6:50pm

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According to current and former administration officials, the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, has been hospitalized at least twice over the past seven months due to stress-related issues. Sources say Lyons has faced immense pressure from the White House, particularly from President Trump's immigration strategist Stephen Miller, over lagging deportation numbers, leading to incidents where Lyons has become visibly upset and struggled to make timely decisions.

Why it matters

The reported hospitalizations of the top ICE official highlight the intense political and legal scrutiny the agency has faced under the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies, which have included aggressive enforcement operations, fatal shootings by federal officers, and efforts to dramatically increase daily deportations.

The details

Multiple officials told Politico that Lyons has been breaking into heavy sweats, turning red, and sometimes having a hard time making timely decisions, forcing his deputies to step in. One former official said Lyons would be "visibly upset and struggling to make the decisions that were needed." Sources claim the pressure from the White House, especially from Trump's immigration strategist Stephen Miller, who they say berates Lyons on daily calls over lagging deportation figures, has been a major factor in Lyons' reported health issues.

  • Over the past seven months, Lyons has been hospitalized at least twice for stress-related problems.
  • During a summer trip to Los Angeles, Lyons reportedly became so distressed that a bodyguard fetched a defibrillator as a precaution.

The players

Todd Lyons

The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who has reportedly been hospitalized twice in the past seven months due to stress-related issues.

Stephen Miller

President Trump's immigration strategist and deputy chief of staff, who sources claim has been berating Lyons on daily calls over lagging deportation figures.

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What they’re saying

“This is bulls--- and more of the trash that [Politico writer] Daniel Lippman has peddled over the years in the name of clicks and clout.”

— Stephen Miller's wife

The takeaway

The reported health issues of the top ICE official underscore the immense political pressure and scrutiny the agency has faced under the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies, which have led to aggressive enforcement actions, fatal incidents, and efforts to dramatically increase deportations.