“Protecting America While Ensuring the Safety of Law Enforcement”: ICE, CBP, and USCIS Testify on the State of Border Security, Immigration Enforcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, the House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing to conduct oversight of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and ensure they are fulfilling their duty to protect the homeland as part of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) core mission. The Committee's oversight comes after Congress provided billions of dollars through reconciliation funding last year for ICE and CBP personnel, technology, border wall construction, and more to continue the administration's success in securing our borders.

Witnesses included ICE Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Todd Lyons, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, and USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. During the hearing, witnesses discussed ongoing operational and morale challenges caused by sanctuary city policies and anti-law enforcement rhetoric, as well as the importance of cooperation between state, local, and federal authorities in the public safety mission.

Following two fatal shootings in Minnesota by federal law enforcement, ICE and CBP leadership committed to providing the Committee with the final reports once investigations are completed and also detailed the training and equipment required for each agency's frontline personnel. In the wake of unrest in Minneapolis, Acting Director Lyons testified that there has been a de-escalation since the administration has worked to increase cooperation with state and local officials. As Democrats threaten to hold DHS funding hostage, every witness explicitly said a DHS shutdown would hurt our homeland security and put critical interagency work to combat evolving threats in jeopardy.

Read the Committee's latest Border Brief here, which details a 77% drop in Southwest border apprehensions in December 2025 compared to January 2025.

In his opening statement , Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) underscored the importance of oversight hearings in providing transparency and accountability between Congress, the executive branch, and the American people:

" While this hearing was long planned, we sit here today at an inflection point--an opportunity to assess and reinforce the integrity of immigration enforcement, and to strengthen public trust. An opportunity to emphasize and underscore the Department of Homeland Security's no-fail mission as a whole. My top priority as Chairman is, and will always be, protecting America while ensuring the safety of law enforcement… I am encouraged to see that President Trump sent Border Czar Tom Homan and Commissioner Scott to Minnesota to work with Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and other local leaders. I sincerely hope this dialogue continues… This should stand as an example of cooperation to anyone who continues to incentivize reckless behavior in our streets, unlawfully impede law enforcement operations, or disparage their fellow citizens."

Chairman Garbarino asked how the curriculum and training provided to CBP and ICE frontline personnel have changed, if at all, since House Republicans provided a historic investment last year:

"I want to focus on the training here because with the historic investment in both ICE and CBP, there was a surge in hiring. I need to know, for these new hires, is the training different than what other agents and officers received before the hiring surge?"

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"No, sir, it's not… The meat of the training was never removed, [but] the timeline was we took training from five days a week, eight hours a day, to six days a week, 12 hours a day. In addition to that, training is different in the fact that before officers even go to the federal law enforcement training academy, there's pre-employment training, which we never had before. And on top of that, we've adapted our on-the-job training program, which is much like a city or state field training officer program, that once they are removed from the federal law enforcement training academy… they're assigned a field training officer."

CBP Commissioner Scott testified:

"The only change that has been made is in our quarterly training. We've added scenarios based on what we most likely think they will encounter in the field… We've actually added some of the protest type encounters as well."

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) asked about how Border Czar Tom Homan's leadership has impacted the situation in Minneapolis:

" I've called for de-escalation after the two deaths, the two shootings that took place… And what has been done since Mr. Homan came into the job? We now have targeted law enforcement operations. He is returning to the original mission of ICE. He is working with state and locals to do the crowd control. He is getting them to honor the ICE detainers. He is also getting the body cameras put on them. And the roving patrols, in his words to me, should be done at the border, not in major cities. My question to you, Mr. Lyons, is Mr. Homan now, are his operations in Minneapolis now bringing the situation under control? "

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"We've seen a de-escalation in the fact that the protests, while they still go on, have subsided and ICE has been allowed to do their targeted, intelligence-driven enforcement operations. Just the other night, local authorities arrested 54 protestors at the local level where ICE officers did not have to be engaged in that."

Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) asked about the impacts of a potential DHS shutdown if long-term funding continues to be blocked, to which USCIS Director Edlow testified:

"In terms of our screening and vetting enterprises, as well as everything else we do, we have formed very, very strong working relationships with the other components. And that's critical for us to be able to do our work. While we may be there, able to continue without our partners being paid, and with them being furloughed, it's going to make America significantly less safe."

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"It will have a great impact especially on the Homeland Security Task Forces and the men and women that are focused on the transnational crime and foreign terrorist organizations."

Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) highlighted the threats faced by federal law enforcement and asked about the level of cooperation from state and local officials:

"We had ten to 12 million people who entered this country illegally in the Biden administration--as a conservative estimate. There are sanctuary cities all throughout the United States who have said, 'we will not comply with federal laws.' That's why we're here today. I can't imagine being a DHS officer and ICE officer and being threatened with violence, having death threats, being doxed, having your family identified, putting that on the internet, and violently telling you that they are going to kill you because you are enforcing the laws that are on the books--that were passed by both sides of the aisle in this body."

"What is different about Minneapolis? What kind of coordination have you received from the local police department that we don't see any of this in Texas ?"

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"Unfortunately, sir, at the beginning of the Minneapolis operation, we didn't see any cooperation at the state or the local level, whether it be from the Minneapolis Police Department or the Minnesota State Police."

Subcommittee Chairman Pfluger continued:

"Were they told by local elected officials not to cooperate?"

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"Yes, sir…"

Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Chairman Dale Strong (R-AL) asked about law enforcement accomplishments despite the rise in anti-law enforcement rhetoric, to which ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"If you look at what ICE has done, if you look at the amount of, as I said earlier, the amount of known or suspected terrorists that we removed from the country, we arrested 1,477 this year and removed 1,480. Just that impact alone, along with the 7,800 gang members, makes a significant impact on public safety and national security."

Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chairman Josh Brecheen (R-OK) asked about the difference between the operations in sanctuary and non-sanctuary jurisdictions, to which ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"With the jurisdictions that we do have cooperation, we're able to take that individual in a safe, secure environment. Not only the safe, secure environment for the officers and agents, but it's also for the individual and the community, because we only need one to two officers to make that arrest. Where now we're historically five or six, we need up to 15."

Subcommittee Chairman Brecheen continued:

"From what you've seen in terms of protest in Minnesota and elsewhere, do you get
the sense these agitators are trying to provoke your agents into reactions?"

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"Yes, sir… We have seen multiple times, and unfortunately, like we saw the shooting in Dallas where agitating groups use apps to identify the location of ICE officers, sometimes prior to when the law enforcement operation begins. Sometimes using these apps put the officers, as well as other federal agencies, local agencies…in danger."

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) asked if there are plans to release body camera footage to provide more transparency about ICE operations, to which ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

" 100 percent, sir. That's one thing that I'm committed to is full transparency, and I fully welcome body cameras all across the spectrum and all of our law enforcement activities."

Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) asked about how coordination between state, local, and federal agencies can increase operational efficiency and the safety of law enforcement and the public:

"Is it true that you would rather send your officers into a jail to get some of these illegal alien criminals? Is it safer for your agents and also the illegal alien criminal if your officers are able to go into a jail instead of having to go out and find them on the street?"

CBP Commissioner Scott testified:

"I 100 percent agree… And just as importantly, it would allow me to put more agents back on the border to prevent people from getting in here in the first place."

Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO), a former police officer, asked if sanctuary city policies undermine immigration enforcement efforts:

"It's common sense that when local or state police arrest an individual for a crime, those officers should be able to obtain basic information about the arrestee, and those state and local officers should then be allowed to share information with federal law enforcement to communicate threats, honor detainer requests, and work together to ensure national security and public safety. So, Director Lyons, can you please explain how ICE works around sanctuary policies to go after the worst of the worst and do these sanctuary policies that release criminals back into the community increase or decrease ICE's presence in the community and the temperature of the interactions that ICE has with the community?"

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"When we deal with sanctuary jurisdictions, we do have to have more law enforcement officers in the street… We'd much rather have the chance to take a aggravated felon, repeat DUI offender into custody at a prison, local jail, or type of lockup environment where it's safer for my officers, and for not only an individual, but that community as well, and then given the opportunity to take that person into custody before that person can reoffend."

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) asked about reports of ICE detaining American citizens and how local, state, and federal law enforcement can improve their partnership:

"I would like to thank all of our members of law enforcement across the country who work every day to keep our communities safe and also to their families that sacrifice… As was discussed earlier, there are a couple areas where I think it's appropriate to discuss potential reforms and the way that we can improve our government operations. DHS guidance indicates that ICE does not arrest or detain U.S. citizens. On the other hand, social media is full of reports and accusations that this is occurring. As you know, any accusation that an American citizen's rights are violated is very serious. Can you clarify, Mr. Lyons, whether this is something that it occurs, and what are the circumstances where a U.S. citizen might be detained, and what steps does ICE take to prevent mistakes?"

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"Well, unfortunately, there's a misnomer that ICE is just a civil enforcement agency, and that's completely wrong. ICE enforces over 400 criminal statutes as well. Special agents, especially with the Homeland Security Investigations, they're consistently out there doing human trafficking cases, drug cases, terrorism cases, and we do encounter U.S. citizens, and those who do commit federal crimes are arrested. But under Title VIII, no U.S. citizen is subject to civil immigration enforcement, and that just doesn't happen. There are multiple safeguards in that way, and if a U.S. citizen is detained in the course of an immigration investigation, they're quickly released. We don't take action on American citizens."

Rep. Mackenzie continued:

"The second thing I would like to hit on is jurisdictions, which are sometimes referred to as sanctuary cities. Not a clear definition, as we all know, but local authorities in our community, we have Northampton County, which does not honor ICE detainer requests for 48 hours… From your perspective, how does this dynamic affect public safety and day-to-day operations, and where or how can we change and improve the coordination between ICE and state and local partners?"

ICE Acting Director Lyons testified:

"Very basic communication would go a long way for public safety. You know ICE respects and abides by state municipality laws… A simple phone call to let us know that that individual is going to be released or if that individual is released, sharing that biographical data with us, will go a long way. Because the last thing we want is a criminal, illegal alien to go back into the community. And more often than not, they prey upon other migrants who are coming here for a better life."

Rep. Matt Van Epps (R-TN) highlighted the administration's success in removing public safety threats from our communities and asked how cartels and other criminal organizations are evolving amid President Trump's strong border enforcement:

"Federal law enforcement operations in Memphis have been successful by every standard and metric, with Memphis State Task Force arresting over 6,000 people… Over the last year, the Trump administration has arrested numerous gang members, pedophiles, and drug traffickers in Memphis, with little fanfare or interference from activists. As a result of this cooperation, murders in Memphis are down by 47 percent since President Trump took office, and overall violent crime is down by 30 percent."

"Next, I want to commend the Trump administration for locking down our southern border. A year ago, it was a highway for illegal aliens and illicit materials. Today, it is secure and closed. Commissioner Scott, as Congress and the Trump administration enabled DHS to secure the southern border, how are cartels and other criminal organizations adapting to effective border enforcement?"

CBP Commissioner Scott testified:

"They're going to continue to push back. I think some of it is in these protests because if we can shut down interior enforcement, that allows them to basically market their goods, if you will, to smuggle people in. And they need those people to be distractions. Because without it, they have to start digging million-dollar tunnels. Without it, they have to spend a bunch of money on drones, which we're countering. Without it, they have to go out into the ocean, where they stick out like a sore thumb, and we're increasing our radars on the West Coast and increasing our air coverage. Basically, it affects their bottom line. And it makes it harder and harder for them to bring their poison and anybody that wants to threaten this country that's willing to pay them here."

###