ICE and CBP Leaders Testify Before Congress Amid Scrutiny Over Fatal Shootings

Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow appeared before the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday to address concerns over recent immigration enforcement actions.

During the hearing, Lyons and Scott declined to comment on the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, citing ongoing investigations. When asked by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) if he would apologize to Good's family for her being labeled a domestic terrorist, Lyons responded, "No, sir."

Lyons defended ICE's operations, stating that the agency has made 379,000 arrests and removed over 475,000 individuals in the past year. He emphasized that officers would not be deterred by public criticism, asserting, "We are only getting started."

Scott highlighted that CBP agents are required to carry secondary weapons and undergo refresher training every three months.

Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) called for a "complete and impartial" investigation into the Minneapolis incidents, emphasizing the need to assess and reinforce the integrity of immigration enforcement.

Democratic members expressed concerns over the use of force and the labeling of the victims as domestic terrorists. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) criticized the Department of Homeland Security's actions, stating, "The slaying of Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti by DHS are the most tragic examples of what is wrong with Trump's DHS."

The hearing underscored the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement practices and the need for transparency and accountability within federal agencies.