In a wide-ranging interview with CBS News, the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, confirmed a sweeping new approach to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, declaring that anyone found to be in the U.S. without legal status will be detained regardless of their criminal history.

Speaking on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, Lyons outlined a more aggressive posture by the agency, which is now targeting both undocumented immigrants and the employers who hire them.

While emphasizing that ICE will still prioritize individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, Lyons made clear that non-criminal migrants are also subject to arrest during operations.

“Our resources are limited, so yes, we do aim to go after those who pose the greatest threat the ‘worst of the worst’ but that doesn’t mean others will be spared,” Lyons said.

He criticized so-called sanctuary policies adopted by some local governments, arguing that their refusal to cooperate with federal authorities is forcing ICE to conduct more field arrests, increasing what he described as “collateral” detentions.

“I’d rather apprehend these individuals while they’re already in custody arrested by local law enforcement and deemed a public safety threat,” he said. “But when we’re blocked from doing that, we have to go into communities, and that’s where you see an uptick in arrests.”

These “collateral” arrests involve undocumented migrants who were not the original targets of enforcement actions but are detained during broader operations.

Such practices were largely restricted during President Biden’s term, which instructed ICE to focus on individuals deemed a threat to national security or public safety.

That policy was immediately reversed when President Trump returned to office in January.

Backed by a fresh multi-billion-dollar injection of congressional funding, ICE has been tasked with dramatically ramping up deportations.

According to internal data reviewed by CBS News, nearly 150,000 people have been deported in Trump’s first six months, with approximately 70,000 having criminal convictions although many of those offenses were immigration-related or minor infractions such as traffic violations.

Despite public emphasis on arrests involving violent criminals, ICE has faced mounting criticism over tactics such as conducting workplace raids, detaining asylum-seekers during court appearances, and deploying masked agents in neighborhoods. Lyons defended the use of masks as a safety measure for officers.

“The agency remains committed to removing the most dangerous offenders,” he said. “But under this administration, the scope has widened considerably.”

A key element of this broader enforcement strategy includes the reinstatement of large-scale raids at job sites a practice halted during Biden’s presidency.

In recent weeks, ICE has carried out high-profile operations at locations including a meat processing facility in Nebraska, a racetrack in Louisiana, and cannabis farms in California.

Over 300 undocumented workers were taken into custody at the cannabis farms alone, among them 10 minors.

Despite brief pressure from industries reliant on immigrant labor which prompted a short-lived pause in such operations, the administration has resumed its workplace crackdowns.

President Trump has suggested offering leniency to some employers, particularly farmers, though no official guidance has followed.

Lyons maintained that enforcement will continue at both ends, targeting undocumented workers and the employers who hire them.

He insisted that prosecuting companies involved in illegal hiring is critical to uncovering abuses such as forced labor and child exploitation.

“This isn’t just about immigration violations. It’s about protecting vulnerable people from exploitation,” he said. “And yes, we’re holding employers accountable. One hundred percent.”