On February 10, 2026, Todd Lyons, then-acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), testified during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in Washington, DC.
Lyons led ICE during some of the most challenging periods in recent times. He has now joined a defense contractor, Navigators Security and Defense, to assist with U.S. homeland defense strategy, interagency operations, and international security. Lyons has been named as the company’s new senior vice president for U.S. homeland security and international affairs. Due to federal laws, he is prohibited from engaging with the Department of Homeland Security for a year.
Navigators Security and Defense is a subsidiary of Navigators Global, a lobbying firm whose clients include General Motors, the New York Jets, and GEO Group, a private prison contractor. GEO Group operates immigration detention centers nationwide, including the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark, N.J.
Lyons brings over thirty years of law enforcement leadership and military expertise to Navigators Security and Defense’s clientele.
In an interesting client connection, Navigators Global has represented NPR and the NPR Network to Congress since 2011.
Lyons’ Leadership at ICE
Lyons acted as ICE’s director from March 2025 to May 2026, a period marked by intense immigration enforcement activities. ICE agents under Lyons’ leadership executed some of the Trump administration’s boldest operations. High-profile crackdowns in cities like Chicago and Minneapolis were part of these efforts. During his tenure, Lyons faced pressure due to a White House-imposed quota of 3,000 daily arrests. Despite aggressive strategies like arresting individuals in immigration courts, this quota was never achieved. Lyons stepped down from his position last month and was succeeded by David Venturella.
GEO Group’s Prosperity
David Venturella, Lyons’ successor, has varied experiences with the GEO Group, a firm known for its strong ties to the Trump administration. GEO Group recorded significant financial growth, with reported income increasing by 700% in 2025, reaching $254 million from $2024’s figures. Chairman George Zoley described 2025 as the most successful period for new business wins in the company’s history.
Warner Introduces Bill to Restrict Presidential Appointments in Intelligence 
New York City Mayor Endorses Progressive Candidates in Democratic Primaries 
New York Congressional Primaries Highlight Democratic Party Divide 
Bill Gates Discusses Concerns with House Committee 
U.S. Court of Appeals Allows Trump’s Expanded Deportations 
The Dilemma of Strategic Dependency for Small States