Acting ICE Director Hospitalized Twice From Stress Amid White House Pressure, Officials Say

What Politico Reported

Politico reported on March 27, 2026 that acting ICE Director Todd Lyons was hospitalized at least twice due to stress-related health issues while overseeing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement campaign. The report cited multiple current and former Department of Homeland Security officials.

According to Politico, the first incident occurred in September 2025, when Lyons's security detail drove him to a Washington hospital, where he spent the night. A second hospitalization occurred in December 2025.

Politico also reported a third incident in Los Angeles during the summer of 2025: Lyons reportedly became severely distressed when ICE agents were unable to locate a targeted migrant during a ride-along with senior administration officials. According to Politico's sources, one of his bodyguards retrieved a portable defibrillator from a nearby government office in case Lyons needed medical intervention.

A former DHS official told Politico: "He would be visibly upset and struggling to make the decisions that were needed to be made by the director." One current and two former officials also told Politico that Lyons "often takes a long time to make decisions, forcing his deputies to do more work."

The Miller Question

Multiple officials attributed part of Lyons's stress to pressure from Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff who has been the primary architect of the administration's immigration enforcement policy.

Four people who were on morning calls with administration officials told Politico that Miller yelled at Lyons during those calls. Politico reported that Lyons would "break out into a full sweat, with his face turning deep red" during periods of intense pressure.

This is not the first time Miller's conduct on immigration calls has been reported. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Miller threatened to fire DHS officials if daily arrest numbers did not reach a quota of 3,000 migrants per day. In the same meeting, Miller reportedly ordered ICE to target Home Depot parking lots to arrest day laborers, and said he could make 30 arrests himself at the nearest location.

Corey Lewandowski — a top aide to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem who was later ousted — also sometimes yelled at Lyons during daily 7 a.m. calls, two White House officials told Politico.

Denials: From Lyons and the White House

Lyons directly disputed the framing of the Politico story. He told Politico: "Any stress is in no way related to pressure from the White House, and nothing will get in the way of me doing my job."

The White House also forcefully rejected the report. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson described it as "absurd" and "inaccurate trash." Jackson told the Daily Beast: "Shame on Politico and Daniel Lippman for publishing such inaccurate trash. Todd, Stephen, and the entire White House team have a great working relationship and coordinate closely to deliver on the President's many promises." Jackson also called Lyons, an Air Force veteran, "an American patriot who has worked tirelessly to undo Biden's disastrous immigration policies."

Three White House officials made available by the administration to Politico for comment stated that Miller never yelled at Lyons. One said Miller was "passionate." A second said Miller asks "very pointed questions in a very assertive tone." A third senior administration official described the calls as "a heated business meeting, if you will, where the host isn't putting up with any BS and asking a lot of questions."

ICE did not respond to a request for comment cited in Politico's original report.

Context: ICE Under Unprecedented Pressure

ICE has been operating under extraordinary operational tempo since early 2025. The Trump administration set aggressive enforcement targets — the Wall Street Journal reported a directive of 3,000 arrests per day — and has expanded enforcement to include workplace raids, construction sites, and other locations not traditionally targeted in mass operations.

Lyons testified before the House Homeland Security Committee on February 10, 2026, in a hearing that became contentious over ICE agent conduct during protests, including the agency's policy of not requiring body cameras. ICE under Lyons has drawn repeated scrutiny for its treatment of detained individuals and the use of masked agents during operations.

Lyons was appointed as acting director following the departure of previous leadership and has not been confirmed by the Senate. His role places him at the intersection of White House political demands and the operational realities of running a 20,000-employee federal law enforcement agency.

What Is and Is Not Known

Politico's account rests on current and former DHS officials speaking on the condition of anonymity. The exact medical nature of Lyons's hospitalizations is not specified in the reporting beyond "stress-related issues." The White House has disputed the central claim — that Miller's conduct contributed to Lyons's health episodes — and Lyons himself denies it.

What is not disputed: Lyons was hospitalized. Lyons has been described by multiple officials as slow to make decisions under pressure. And senior White House officials have conducted blunt, high-pressure calls with ICE leadership — a fact the White House did not deny, but characterized as normal management conduct.

ICE has not independently confirmed the hospitalization dates or circumstances.