Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will begin aggressively targeting both illegal immigrants and the companies that employ them, according to acting agency head Todd Lyons.
Speaking during an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, Lyons outlined a major policy shift under the Trump administration that reverses years of leniency under the Biden-era Department of Homeland Security.
Lyons made clear that ICE will no longer limit its enforcement actions to only those with serious criminal records. Instead, anyone found to be in the country illegally—regardless of their offense history—will be subject to arrest. While criminal aliens will remain the top priority, the agency will also resume “collateral” arrests, a practice largely suspended under President Biden.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons tells @camiloreports that the agency will take people into custody if they are in the U.S. illegally, even if they do not otherwise have a criminal record — something he acknowledges as “collateral arrests.” pic.twitter.com/OzyalJUqd5
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 20, 2025
“What’s frustrating for me,” said Lyons, “is that we would love to focus on these criminal aliens inside jail facilities—individuals already deemed a public safety threat. But we’re also forced to go into communities to make arrests. That’s where you’re seeing an increase in collateral arrests.”
This broader enforcement approach marks a significant departure from recent DHS policy, which had constrained agents from detaining individuals not already in custody or facing serious charges. Under Lyons’ leadership, ICE is “opening the whole aperture of the immigration portfolio,” a move he says is necessary to restore the rule of law and secure the nation’s borders.
Equally important in the agency’s updated focus is worksite enforcement. Lyons emphasized that ICE will not only be arresting undocumented workers but also pursuing legal action against American businesses that knowingly hire them. “One hundred percent,” Lyons said when asked if employers would be held accountable.
“Not only are we focused on those individuals working here illegally,” he added, “we’re focused on the companies exploiting them. Many of these cases involve forced labor, wage theft, or even child labor. This is about protecting workers and the integrity of our economy.”
CBS confirmed that these worksite operations are already underway and expected to expand significantly. According to Lyons, ICE intends to use every available tool to crack down on systemic abuses that enable illegal employment and incentivize unlawful entry into the United States.
