ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons recaps major recent achievements and his duty to the fallen

Hey, my name is Todd Lions. I'm the acting ICE director. Today, we're here in our Hall of Heroes at ICE headquarters where we remember all of our agents and officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

This week is National Police Week here in DC. So, we're taking time to go ahead and remember those in our family that have fallen and paid the ultimate price for our freedom. In the Hall of Heroes, we have plaques that are dedicated to each one of our fallen officers and agents.

Our very first plaque is of Joseph Sitter, a custom special agent that was killed during a confrontation with some uh gang of horse thieves. One of my most solemn duties is to remember and honor these heroes that came before us. Here at ICE, we will never forget their sacrifice they made for our nation.

Even though we take time to honor police week, our mission never stops. Last week, Homeland Security Investigations along with RRO conducted a welfare check of unaccompanied children in New Jersey. There they found three kids living alone in a filthy apartment.

no food in the house and the sponsor pulled them out from school. These children may have been part of a labor exploitation. These are somebody's kids.

ICE is serious about protecting kids, which is why we do welfare checks like this. And now, because of the efforts of our agents and officers, these kids are now safe. Last week, we also celebrated the success of Operation Title Wave in the state of Florida.

It was one of the first of its kind for immigration customs enforcement. During that week with our partnerships between the 287G program with our state, local and municipal partnerships along with other federal partners, ICE alone arrested 1120 of violent criminal aliens that were on the streets of Florida. Through that effort, in that operation, we made the state of Florida safer.

Also, last week, ICE had an operation where we broke up an animal fighting ring. This ring involved illegal aliens, gambling, drugs, and weapons. As we head into police week, I invite all of you to join me in honoring the men and women, these heroes that came before us, and to honor the men and women who put the badge on every day and risk their lives to make America safe again.