High 5 takeaways from the Home immigration oversight listening to : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2F90%2F12681cb4433a94ba88e72fb6b26f%2Fgettyimages-2260409074.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2F90%2F12681cb4433a94ba88e72fb6b26f%2Fgettyimages-2260409074.jpg" class="img" alt="Left to right, Rodney Scott, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, testify during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Feb. 10, 2026." fetchpriority="high"/> Left to proper, Rodney Scott, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Safety, Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies, and Todd Lyons, appearing director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, testify throughout a Home Committee on Homeland Safety listening to on Feb. 10, 2026. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP through Getty Photos conceal caption

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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP through Getty Photos Immigration company leaders appeared earlier than Congress for the primary time since two U.S. residents had been shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.

Democrats, and a few Republicans, on the Home Homeland Safety Committee on Tuesday took the chance to criticize the ways utilized by officers on the bottom and the technique of prime Trump administration officers to curb unlawful migration.

The criticism got here as congressional funding is ready to run out on Friday for the Homeland Safety Division — the division that homes Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Safety and Citizenship and Immigration Companies.

The listening to underscored how deeply divided Republicans and Democrats stay on top-level modifications to immigration enforcement within the wake of the shootings. It urged Congress is inching nearer to a different stopgap invoice to fund the division within the absence of deeper settlement.

Listed here are another takeaways from the listening to:

1. Deaths of two U.S. residents keep prime of thoughts Each Republicans and Democrats mentioned the deaths of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, the 37-year-olds killed by DHS officers in two separate incidents.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino, N.Y., the Republican chairman of the committee, referred to as the deaths, in addition to elevated violent rhetoric typically, "unacceptable and preventable."

"The security of regulation enforcement and the communities they serve and defend should all the time come first. When officers or elected leaders rush to conclusions about regulation enforcement, or their fellow Individuals, public belief suffers," Garbarino mentioned in his opening remarks, calling for a "full" investigation.

"I can't put myself within the sneakers of regulation enforcement, nor can I think about what the households of Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti are enduring at present," he mentioned.

However ICE appearing Director Todd Lyons — who hasn't been confirmed by the Senate but — deflected questions concerning the deaths. He mentioned he would "not touch upon any ongoing investigations."

He additionally sought to deflect criticism of President Trump and Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem for labeling Pretti as a "home terrorist," saying as elected or appointed officers, "that is their proper to their feedback."

However Lyons, in response to Democrats' questions, did emphasize that U.S. residents should not be caught up in immigration enforcement.

"ICE officers and particular brokers are skilled within the Immigration and Nationality Act, so anybody that's right here legally or lawfully or a US citizen shouldn't be involved about being deported or detained," Lyons mentioned. He later drew a distinction between somebody being "arrested" – which he acknowledged might occur to a U.S. citizen — and being "detained" on an extended foundation.

NPR witnessed a number of situations in Minnesota the place immigration brokers drove round Minneapolis and questioned folks about their immigration standing, with the state's legal professional basic saying U.S. residents had been detained.

The detention of U.S. residents has additionally occurred underneath prior administrations. A 2021 Authorities Accountability Workplace report discovered that over a five-year interval, U.S. residents had encounters with immigration officers that might result in their arrest and even deportation.

2. Bipartisan questions on coaching and inner oversight ICE and CBP officers broke down coaching and assets obtainable to officers, in response to repeated questions on how officers are treating U.S. residents and others.

Lyons mentioned that officers bear three months of coaching, which incorporates 47 days on the Federal Legislation Enforcement Coaching Academy in Georgia. Legislation enforcement officers and particular brokers who had been licensed prior to now bought to have a shorter coaching module, targeted on simply subjects just like the Immigration and Nationality Act.

"They must undergo the rigorous immigration coaching, which, sadly ... immigration regulation is simply as complicated and lengthy as [the] tax code," Lyons mentioned.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., requested Lyons what number of ICE officers have been fired for his or her conduct. Lyons declined to touch upon personnel issues.

However Lyons did denounce among the language immigration officers had been caught utilizing on video. For instance, in a video shared on social media after Pretti's demise, an officer could be heard telling a lady: "should you elevate your voice, I'll erase your voice."

When requested concerning the footage, Lyons mentioned he hadn't seen it however mentioned ICE "does respect and cling to the First Modification" and that the assertion heard within the video "would not signify the values of the women and men of ICE."

3. Republicans share some issues with Democrats Republicans voiced concern about two points that Democrats have steadily raised: roving patrols and using physique cameras.

Underneath the second Trump administration, CBP, which homes the Border Patrol company, has taken a number one position in imposing federal immigration legal guidelines within the inside of the nation, slightly than strictly close to the borders.

In response to widespread criticism of the occasions in Minneapolis, Trump eliminated Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino from serving as the general public face of the immigration presence there, changing him with White Home border czar Tom Homan. Trump later mentioned in an interview that "perhaps we are able to use a little bit little bit of a softer contact" on the subject of immigration enforcement.

GOP Rep. Michael McCaul, Texas, mentioned he believed "roving patrols must be finished on the border slightly than within the main cities of the USA." He additionally applauded the management modifications in Minneapolis as "returning to the unique mission of ICE."

Lawmakers from each events have additionally pushed for higher use of physique cameras to assist in oversight of brokers' actions on the bottom.

Lyons mentioned that ICE had 3,000 cameras for 13,000 officers and Customs and Border Safety Commissioner Rodney Scott famous that solely half of 20,000 CBP officers have physique cameras.

Lyons pledged to Rep. Tony Gonzalez, R-Texas, that physique digital camera footage of enforcement in Minneapolis can be launched to the general public and that he welcomes all officers getting such cameras.

Scott, from Customs and Border Safety, additionally pleaded for Congress to totally fund the physique digital camera program for his company, too, noting that whereas there was cash for the bodily units, there haven't been the personnel to totally implement the physique digital camera program.

"So fund the complete program in order that we could be clear and that we are able to ensure America is aware of what we're doing, as a result of that belief is critically vital," Scott urged lawmakers.

Noem, the homeland safety secretary, has mentioned the division is sending physique cameras to each area officer in Minneapolis and that the physique digital camera program can be expanded nationwide as funding permits.

Democrats need this codified into regulation.

4. Most requests had been nonetheless partisan The rhetoric and questions nonetheless appeared largely break up alongside partisan strains. Republicans described the work finished by ICE as "outstanding," whereas Democrats referred to as for the "abolishment" and "dismanteling" of the company.

Different Democratic proposals proceed to face an uphill battle for GOP help, together with requires officers to show figuring out data corresponding to their final names on their uniforms, and to ban them from carrying face coverings.

Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., requested Lyons whether or not he would decide to unmasking his officers. Lyons mentioned no. And Republicans argued that banning face masks would make it simpler for folks to dox federal brokers — a typical chorus from the administration.

5. ICE was within the highlight, whereas CBP, USCIS — and the looming shutdown — took a backseat Each Republicans and Democrats peppered Lyons with questions on his company's operations. However lawmakers typically didn't drill down into the modifications at CBP and USCIS, regardless of these businesses' rising roles in immigration enforcement during the last 12 months.

Questions for CBP's Scott nonetheless centered round border enforcement. That comes even because the Border Patrol has gone past its conventional jurisdiction of 100 miles from U.S. borders to conduct enforcement in cities like Minneapolis, and lead operations in Illinois, North Carolina and Louisiana.

All three businesses hedged in response to questions on whether or not their operations can be affected if DHS shuts down on Friday. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies Director Joseph Edlow reminded lawmakers that his company is funded primarily by the charges folks pay after they submit varied varieties and purposes, so his staff would nonetheless receives a commission.

And ICE and CBP each bought an enormous infusion of money from Congress in Republicans' One Huge Lovely Invoice Act final summer season — making ICE the highest-funded U.S. regulation enforcement company.

Lyons mentioned the shutdown might have an effect on the Division of Homeland Safety's work associated to transnational crime, however he didn't notice any impression to immigration operations. And Scott additionally did not element how the shutdown would have an effect on personnel, simply saying: "I agree America turns into much less secure."

Their responses counsel any lapse in funding might most have an effect on non-immigration businesses contained in the Division of Homeland Safety, just like the Transportation Safety Administration and Federal Emergency Administration Company — doubtlessly spelling bother for U.S. air journey and catastrophe response.