ICE, CBP and USCIS officials testify before House Committee

[0:01] The Committee on Homeland Security will come to order. [0:05] Without objection, the Chair may declare the Committee in recess at any point. [0:08] The purpose of today's hearing is to conduct oversight of the Department of Homeland Security [0:13] and assess priorities for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and [0:17] Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for the calendar year [0:22] 2026. [0:23] Before we get started, I'd like to remind the members and the public of the rules of [0:27] decorum. [0:29] These issues we are debating are important ones that members feel deeply about. [0:33] While vigorous disagreement is part of the legislative process, members are reminded [0:38] that we must adhere to established standards of decorum in debate. [0:41] It is a violation of House rules and the rules of this Committee to engage in personalities [0:46] regarding other members or to question the motives of a colleague. [0:49] It is also a clear violation of the rules of the House to make statements that might [0:53] personally be offensive to the President or the Vice President of the United States. [0:59] Remarks of that type are not permitted by the rules and are not in keeping with the [1:02] best traditions of our Committee. [1:04] The Chair will enforce the rules of the House. [1:05] The Chair will enforce these rules of decorum at all times and urges all members to be [1:08] mindful of their remarks. [1:10] Further, under the rules of the House, the Chairman is responsible for maintaining order [1:14] and preserving decorum in the Committee Room. [1:17] I expect audience members to be respectful of the witnesses, members, and the public. [1:21] If members of the audience are persistently or overly disruptive, it is a violation of [1:26] federal law and you will be subject to removal and arrest. [1:30] I now recognize myself for an opening statement. [1:32] I want to start by thanking our witnesses for appearing before the Committee today. [1:37] Today's hearing provides the American people the ability to hear directly from the leaders [1:44] that enforce our nation's immigration laws. [1:46] It is our imperative, as representatives of the people, to be a voice for the people. [1:52] Transparency, communication, and accountability are keys to good government. [1:58] This is why oversight is important. [2:00] Informing Congress and the public is not casting accusations, nor is it a punishment. [2:06] Congress has a duty to hear directly from the executive branch, a duty I take seriously. [2:10] An executive branch has a duty to keep us informed. [2:14] While this hearing was long planned, we sit here today at an inflection point. [2:19] An opportunity to assess and reinforce the integrity of immigration enforcement and [2:23] to strengthen public trust. [2:26] An opportunity to emphasize and underscore the Department of Homeland Security's no-fail [2:30] mission as a whole. [2:33] My top priority as Chairman is, and will always be, protecting America, while ensuring the [2:38] safety of law enforcement. [2:41] This is further important in the context of another potential shutdown. [2:44] Let me be clear, shutting down DHS makes America less safe and negatively impacts thousands [2:52] of federal employees like those at TSA and CISA. [2:56] The Department of Homeland Security is the nation's largest federal law enforcement [3:00] agency. [3:01] It is this committee's duty, regardless of administration, to conduct oversight. [3:06] We need to examine how DHS components are enforcing the law and ensure they have the [3:11] resources in place to do work safely, effectively, and properly. [3:14] Thank you. [3:17] So, we have provided historic resources through reconciliation to strengthen public safety [3:21] and support for the Trump administration's unprecedented efforts to secure the border. [3:26] This was the single largest investment in the domestic homeland security mission. [3:31] To succeed, we all need to work together seamlessly and this committee is a partner in that effort. [3:37] It is important to remember how we got here. [3:39] For years, we witnessed a blanket refusal to enforce the law, wide open borders, catch [3:44] and release policies, and uncontrolled mass migration. [3:48] These policies undermine the rules of law enforcement. [3:49] But, we will continue to do so. [3:49] rule of law and endangered all americans enforcing immigration law is not optional trump administration's [3:57] record on border security is irrefutable nationwide border encounters last december decreased 91 [4:03] compared to 2023 apprehensions between ports of entry last december decreased 86 compared to 2024 [4:10] and we ended last year with eight consecutive months of zero parole releases by border patrol [4:17] further thousands of criminal illegal aliens have been detained and deported these actions [4:22] make america safer and more secure but the credibility of these successes is on the line [4:28] we must take the temperature down and look at the record of enforcement actions through rational [4:32] eyes we've seen a significant increase in violent rhetoric and agitation we've seen a significant [4:39] increase in attacks on federal law enforcement and the number of threats facing them and their [4:43] families this committee highlighted the threat increases to law enforcement at an earlier hearing [4:49] we have seen state and local jurisdictions refuse to protect federal law enforcement officers [4:54] and obviously we have [4:56] now seen the deaths of two american citizens in minnesota this is all unacceptable and preventable [5:03] the safety and law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect must always come first when [5:09] officials or elected leaders rush to conclusions about law enforcement or their fellow americans [5:15] public trust suffers there must be complete and impartial investigation i expect each of our [5:22] witnesses to keep this committee fully informed as the investigations run their course and i will [5:27] ensure this happens [5:29] while these investigations are ongoing officials and elected leaders cannot rush to judgment [5:34] i cannot put myself in the shoes of law enforcement nor can i imagine what the [5:38] families of miss good and mr pretty are enduring today public trust and public safety go hand-in-hand [5:44] we cannot have one without the other i am encouraged to see that president trump sent [5:49] border czar tom homan and commissioner scott to minnesota to work with governor wore Toldes mayor [5:54] right and other local leaders i sincerely hope this dialogue continues this should stand as an [5:59] example of cooperation to who and to anyone and we thank all of you for your support i salute that основbeat of that common ground and i will not let that happen while we do things we can get through and we do some of the best we can do for arises for [6:02] who continues to incentivize reckless behavior in our streets, unlawfully impede law enforcement [6:08] operations, or disparage their fellow citizens. State and local officials should be partners, [6:14] not obstacles when it comes to public safety. And federal officials should keep in mind that [6:18] this kind of partnership is a two-way street. Everyone should have the same goal of keeping [6:23] America safe. Transparency and communication are needed now more than ever. The department's [6:29] no-fail mission hangs in the balance. A rule-based order is not one-sided. Enforcing [6:35] immigration law and defending all Americans' constitutional rights, including the rights [6:39] to peacefully protest, bear arms, and privacy, are not mutually exclusive. I want to thank [6:46] Secretary Noem for making these witnesses rapidly available, and again thank the three of you for [6:51] being here today. As Border Czar Holman recently said, you can't fix problems if you don't have [6:58] discussions. I hope we can have a positive, civil, and productive discussion today. [7:02] Only together can we make our community stronger and the homeland safer for the future of all [7:08] Americans. I now recognize the ranking member, the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson, [7:13] for his opening statement. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Good morning to all of you who are [7:19] here. Thank you for calling this hearing today. This important hearing has drawn a great deal of [7:26] interest and attention, and many of my colleagues who represent the border city of El Paso and who [7:33] have been living in the border city of El Paso have been living in the border city of El Paso. [7:34] I would like to ask questions of our witnesses. So, Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the [7:47] young woman from Texas, Ms. Escobar, be permitted to sit with the committee and question today's [7:54] witnesses as we have afforded that to other individuals in past hearings. [8:01] Well, I thank the gentleman for their interest in today's important hearing. As I previously [8:05] informed you, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask questions of our witnesses. So, Mr. Chairman, [8:05] I would like to ask questions of our witnesses. So, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask questions of [8:05] both the majority and minority. Committee will not be entertaining off committee member [8:09] requests. Therefore, I object. Well, your objection is noted, Mr. Chairman, but I would, [8:18] for the record, want to say that it's highly unusual that a member of Congress sitting [8:24] with as much impact on immigration as her area is not afforded that courtesy. But you, the chairman, [8:37] and that's your prerogative as if it would be anyone else's. [8:46] As the ranking member knows, we had many requests. [8:50] This is a very important hearing. [8:53] It is my duty to keep the wheels on this hearing [8:56] and get actual answers on the record. [8:59] I thank the gentlelady's interest. [9:02] We had a lot of members who were interested [9:03] in being here today, [9:06] which is why we thought it would be best [9:08] to keep it for members of the committee. [9:12] These gentlemen have repeatedly testified [9:16] before many committees at the Capitol, [9:19] and I'm sure other members will get the opportunity [9:22] to do the same questioning. [9:24] This is Committee on Homeland Security. [9:26] We had previously said we would not waive on members [9:29] specifically for this hearing, [9:30] and we're gonna stick by that rule today. [9:33] Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. [9:35] May I say to Ms. Escobar, [9:38] if there are questions, [9:39] you would like to have acts of these witnesses. [9:44] If you will provide those questions to me [9:48] or any other member of the committee, [9:50] we'll be more than happy to transmit them. [9:52] Thank you so much. [9:59] I hope my Republican colleagues will remember [10:01] that our job is to conduct oversight, [10:05] not cover for Donald Trump [10:07] and his out-of-control administration, [10:10] which is running roughshod over Americans' rights, [10:13] killing U.S. citizens, [10:14] and threatening our values. [10:15] We will continue to serve as a team [10:18] to ensure one people's basic rights [10:20] and a fairer democracy. [10:22] The disease rotting the Trump administration [10:24] from the inside-out started at the top [10:27] and has infected every part of the executive branch. [10:30] Nowhere is that more evident [10:32] than at the Department of Homeland Security. [10:35] This hearing is just the start of a reckoning [10:38] for the Trump administration [10:40] and its weaponization of DHS against American citizens, [10:44] and the principle our country stands for. [10:47] Secretary Kristi Noem must be held accountable for its lawlessness immigration operation. [10:53] They are reckless, creating chaos in our communities, terrorizing adults and children alike, and [11:00] undermining our moral authority as a nation of liberty and rule of law. [11:06] Last month, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, a Minneapolis mom, in cold blood as [11:13] she drove away from him. [11:16] After killing her, the agent called her a disgusting name. [11:21] I won't repeat here. [11:23] Other agents refused to allow a nearby physician to treat her. [11:29] Democrats called for accountability. [11:32] Instead, Secretary Noem blamed the victim, Ms. Good, and attempted to gaslight Americans [11:40] with false claims that Ms. Good was a domestic terrorist. [11:45] Renee Good was nothing of the sort. [11:48] She was a mom. [11:49] Mm-hmm. [11:49] A wife, a neighbor, and an American citizen who did not deserve to die at the hands of [11:56] her own government. [11:58] She should be alive today. [12:01] Ever since, the Trump administration has devoted the full resources of the federal government [12:07] to blocking a legitimate investigation into Ms. Good's killing. [12:11] If that isn't a sign of guilt, I don't know what is. [12:16] Fellow prosecutors had a warrant to collect evidence from Ms. Good's vehicle. [12:21] Ms. Good's vehicle was the vehicle for a civil rights investigation into ICE's use [12:25] of force. [12:26] But FBI Director Cash Fattel and other Trump administration officials demanded they drop [12:32] it. [12:34] Korea prosecutors, duly bound to the rule of law, not the political prerogatives of the [12:40] White House, resigned in protest. [12:42] Blocking an investigation into the government's use of force against one of its own citizens [12:49] is a self-dictatorship, not dictatorship. [12:51] Ms. Good, you're going to have to go to jail. [12:52] Ms. Good, you're going to have to go to jail. [12:52] Ms. Good, you're going to have to go to jail. [12:52] Ms. Good, you're going to have to go to jail. [12:52] Ms. Good, you're going to have to go to jail. [12:53] But what about an investigation into Ms. Good's own life? [12:53] Everybody thinks that if she's going to see an emergency, it's going to be necessary [12:55] for the U.S. government to proceed with the investigations. [12:55] Every American should be outraged. [12:56] Democrats tried to get answers in the aftermath of Ms. Good's shooting. [13:02] We called on Acting Director Todd Lyons to testify at the committee's hearing three [13:08] weeks ago. [13:09] Unfortunately, he turned down the committee's invitation. [13:15] This is part of a pattern of the Trump administration's refusal to comply with regular congressional [13:21] oversight. [13:23] Committee Democrats have not yet received an answer. [13:24] have sent multiple letters to ice and cbp on critical issues but most of them 10 have gone [13:33] unanswered mr chairman i act unanimous consent to include all 10 of these records into the record [13:43] letters into the record that objection ice has blocked members of congress from visiting its [13:49] detention facilities even after reports of horrific conditions detainee abuse and a detainee [13:57] being murdered in a dhs facility i was one of those individuals who parted to a lawsuit to [14:07] try to get ice to just follow the law that says members of congress [14:12] can visit ice facilities and present themselves at any time so i understand that [14:21] it's still being [14:21] litigated but i've been given authority to go and i plan to do it this week just to test [14:28] ike's uh adherence to the law mr lyons is here today nearly a month after we invited him i guess [14:36] dhs needed time to get his story straight before he came to testify under oath fearing more violence [14:44] from federal law enforcement democrats have also called on dhs to ring in immigration agents and [14:53] have brutal attacks on americans immediately following miss good's murder but dhs ignored our [15:00] pleas instead greg vino who styled himself in nazi attire and takes joy in deploying tear gas [15:09] at americans continued to roam around minneapolis with his mass gang terrorizing people [15:16] and violating their constitutional rights and tragically our worst fears were realized [15:23] just days after the hearing mr lions refused to participate in cbp personnel shot alex pre-t and [15:33] he was face down on minneapolis's sidewalk killing him in broad daylight in the video of the incident [15:43] a dhs agent can be seen cheering mr preedy's death americans watch the video in horror yet once again [15:54] secretary nome [15:55] carrying on gaslit the public, made up a demonstrably false story about Mr. Preeti, and blamed the [16:04] victim for his own death. [16:07] Mr. Preeti was a law-abiding U.S. citizen and a VA nurse who dedicated his career to [16:14] caring for our veterans. [16:16] Mr. Chairman, at our last month hearing, I asked for a moment of silence in the memory [16:23] of Renee Good. [16:25] Today, with great sadness about another American killed at the hands of DHS, I ask that the [16:32] committee observe a moment of silence in honor of Alex Preeti. [16:48] Thank you. [16:49] The slaying of Ms. Good and Mr. Preeti by DHS are the most tragic examples of what is [16:55] wrong with Trump's DHS, but far from the only one. [17:00] Last fall, a Border Patrol agent shot Miramar Martinez, U.S. [17:05] citizen and preschool teacher from Chicago, five times. [17:11] The agent bragged in text messages about shooting her, saying, quote, I fired five rounds and [17:18] she had seven holes, but that's in your book, boys. [17:24] Again, the Trump administration tried to blame Ms. Martinez, the victim, but prosecutors [17:30] dropped charges against her when it became apparent that the evidence contradicted the [17:36] Border Patrol's phony account. [17:37] Unlike Ms. Good's and Mr. Preeti's, we can no longer tell their stories. [17:45] Ms. Martinez has shared her story about what Trump's DHS did to her. [17:51] I want to play a bit of the video here because people need to see what ICE and CBP are doing [17:59] to Americans. [18:04] So this is the first one I realized I was like, oh, it's just a pepper palette, but [18:10] no. [18:11] And then I got shot right here. [18:15] And then I have a wound on the side of my chest right here. [18:19] And I got two holes in my thigh, right here, right here. [18:29] Wow. [18:30] Wow. [18:31] You're covered in wounds. [18:32] Wounds. [18:33] Yeah. [18:34] And I want people to see like what's going on, like the type of stuff they're doing. [18:43] What happened to Ms. Martinez, Ms. Good and Mr. Preeti is a scourge on this country and [18:50] shameful chapter in our nation's history. [18:52] But tragically, there's more. [18:56] DHS agents recently used a five-year-old Ecuadorian boy, Leman Ramos, as bait to lure his family [19:05] members outside their home to arrest them. [19:09] The family had entered the country legally as asylum seekers and were living in Minnesota [19:16] while awaiting their immigration proceedings. [19:18] DHS sent the little boy and his father to detention in Texas for over a year. [19:20] And they're still here. [19:21] They're still here. [19:22] They're still here. [19:23] They're still here. [19:24] Over a week. [19:25] Thankfully, a judge ordered him released, slamming DHS for its, and I quote, incompetently [19:33] implemented deportation campaign. [19:35] Incompetently implemented deportation campaign is putting it nicely, especially as it relates [19:45] to small children. [19:47] More apt in the Bible, quote from John 11 chapter 35, referenced at the end of the judge's [19:54] opinion, Jesus wept. DHS personnel are now forcing their way into private homes without [20:03] a judicial warrant in violation of the Fourth Amendment. In one recent incident, Ice dragged [20:10] a U.S. citizen from his home at gunpoint in underwear before realizing they had picked [20:17] up the wrong person. The person Ice was actually looking for was sitting in jail in Minnesota. [20:27] The Minnesota Department of Corrections says that Ice had this information all along. Bystander [20:34] videos from Minneapolis and cities around the country show Ice and CBP personnel behaving [20:42] like unprofessional goons, cursing at bystanders and mooning people from their hotel rooms. [20:50] News reports have a Border Patrol agent was found passed out, drunk, and covered in vomit [20:58] in a vehicle. [20:58] And Ice personnel apparently stole a child's phone and sold it for cash. [21:05] It's an embarrassment and DHS's so-called leadership should be ashamed, if only they [21:11] had any shame. Secretary Nome, Department of Homeland Security, has the blood of American [21:18] citizens on its hands, but she takes no responsibility for anything. [21:25] To the contrary, Secretary Nome was last seen in this committee room, hiding from the public [21:30] in a desperate attempt to distract from her department's failures and abuses. [21:38] Then she ran from our questions, leaving early under the guise of needing to attend a meeting [21:45] that it turns out didn't even exist. [21:49] Her inexcusable behavior should come as no surprise. She's always been more concerned [21:56] with photo ops and wardrobe changes than following the law. [21:58] The first time the president of the United States ordered a brazen attack on a woman, [21:59] the first time the president of the United States ordered a brazen attack on a woman, the first [22:00] law and fulfilling the mission of her department. Since being sworn in, Secretary [22:06] Nome has enriched herself, abused the power of her office, obstructed congressional oversight, [22:13] and violated her oath to the Constitution. Donald Trump and Kristi Nome are doing real damage to [22:21] this country and to the department that was stood up 25 years ago in the wake of 9-11 [22:28] to protect American citizens from future attacks. Secretary Nome is a liar with no concern for the [22:36] lives of Americans killed by the department she runs. She must go. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. [22:44] The gentleman yields back. Other members of the committee are reminded that opening [22:49] statements may be submitted for the record. I would now like to formally introduce our witnesses. [22:55] First is Mr. Rodney Scott. Mr. Scott is Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. [22:59] After decades of [23:00] support and support from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of State has been [23:00] committed to protecting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. Department of State has been [23:00] committed to protecting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. Department of State has been [23:00] committed to protecting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. Department of State has been [23:01] committed to doing its service at CBP, he has served as the Senate [23:05] confirmed commissioner since June of 2025. Second is Mr. Joseph Edlow. [23:10] Mr. Edlow has served in numerous,imoto incluso número de [23:15] arrowz al fandores ya el organismo en el Congreso,?numerositas red foreigners en el Congreso, [23:17] country, chief counsel to USCIS. Mr. Edlow has been [23:20] served as the Senate Confirmation Director since July 2025. [23:24] Third is Mr. Todd Lyons. Mr. Lyons is trip digging director of kid [23:31] custom enforcement. Lina Lyons is forgiven. All legal documents Cadley es----- [23:33] Director Lyons began his federal service in the U.S. Air Force in 1993 and joined [23:37] ICE as an agent in 2007. Sir Lyons moved up the ranks and has [23:41] served as acting director since March of 2025. Thank all the witnesses for [23:46] being here today. Pursuant to Committee Rule 8C, I ask that the witnesses please [23:51] rise and raise their right hand. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you [23:59] will give before the Committee on Homeland Security of the United States [24:02] House of Representatives will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but [24:05] the truth, so help you God. Let the record reflect that the witnesses have [24:09] answered the affirmative. Thank you and please be seated. I now recognize [24:15] Commissioner Scott for five minutes to summarize his opening statement. Chairman [24:21] Garbarino, Ranking Member Thompson, members of the committee, thank you for [24:25] the opportunity to appear here before you today. I'm honored to represent more [24:29] than 67,000 dedicated men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection who [24:33] are tirelessly protecting this great nation every single day by simply trying [24:38] to make sure we know who and what is entering our homeland. Border security is [24:43] national security. Law enforcement [24:45] personnel that selflessly provide this service to America increasingly perform [24:50] under difficult conditions and intense public and political scrutiny, but these [24:54] brave men and women deserve our gratitude and thanks. It's my privilege [24:59] to be here today joining my colleagues from Immigration and Customs [25:02] Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Our agencies work [25:06] in partnership to secure the homeland and uphold the integrity of our [25:10] immigration system. CBP has spent the last year rebuilding what was an [25:16] open border. As I informed Congress in 2021 and again in 2023, the open border [25:21] policies of the Biden administration all but eliminated any meaningful border [25:26] along this any meaningful border and it replaced it with a porous geographic line [25:31] defined by record high encounters with illegal aliens, overwhelmed facilities, [25:36] and a workforce that was stretched so far beyond their capabilities that hostile [25:41] nations and the cartels exploited our border at will. That all changed on January [25:47] 28, 2025 under the leadership of President Trump. We have now implemented effective policies, [25:52] established unified priorities and objectives across all federal departments, and empowered [25:57] our workforce to do their jobs by simply enforcing the laws that already exist. We have imposed [26:04] consequences for those who break our laws, the laws that this body enacted. And today, [26:09] the United States, because of these efforts, enjoys the most secure border in our nation's [26:13] history. But this progress did not happen by accident. It's a result of a comprehensive [26:17] approach to border security. [26:18] We ended catch and release, we prioritized detention and removal authorities, and we sent a [26:24] clear message that illegal entry into the United States will not be tolerated. And the numbers speak [26:29] for themselves. We have achieved record low illegal crossings between ports of entry. Border Patrol [26:35] apprehensions along the southwest border totaled over 90,000 for the entire year. That's a number [26:41] that used to represent a single month under the Biden administration. Daily encounters have dropped [26:46] by 95 percent, averaging about 250 per day. [26:50] Our increased enforcement also resulted in the seizure of over 617,000 pounds of illicit [27:00] narcotics. That's nationwide, an 8 percent increase over the prior year. This included nearly 11,000 [27:07] pounds of fentanyl and more than 186,000 pounds of methamphetamines. This is what having a secure [27:14] border looks like. None of this would have been possible without the vision and leadership of [27:18] President Trump and the historic investments made in border security. [27:22] The One Big Beautiful Bill, a $65 billion investment, is enabling CBP to modernize border [27:28] infrastructure, deploy additional advanced technology, and to grow our workforce. [27:32] Since January 2025, CBP is building smart wall at record levels. We're installing high tech [27:39] attributes where the Biden administration had shut it off. We're installing water barriers [27:43] along the Rio Grande River, which denies criminals access to these routes. But that is not all. We're [27:50] investing in technology at our ports of entry, non-intrusive and [27:53] equipment biometrics and advanced surveillance to improve our ability to [27:58] know what's coming into this country the land air and sea at and between the [28:02] ports of entry CBP's workforce is without a doubt the greatest asset that [28:06] we have the one big beautiful bill is investing historic amounts of money in [28:11] recruitment hiring and retention and training to ensure that we have the most [28:15] highly qualified and capable law enforcement professionals secure in our [28:19] border due to the collaboration across all federal departments the resultant [28:24] reckoned low encounters CBP has been able to surge resources to support Isis [28:28] targeted enforcement operations across the nation CBP is integrated with ice [28:33] and other partners to identify and remove dangerous criminals and others [28:37] who remain in the country illegally as recent events have demonstrated though [28:41] our officers and agents are increasingly facing an unprecedented level of [28:44] aggressive interference and intimidation when executing the laws that you have [28:49] asked them to enforce these attacks on federal law enforcement personnel are [28:53] coordinated and well-funded [28:55] this is not peaceful protest no law enforcement officers should be put at [28:59] personal risk simply for doing the job that we have asked them to do I thank [29:04] you for your continued support of CBP's mission and I look forward to answering [29:07] your questions today thank you commissioner I now recognize director [29:12] Ed Lowe for five minutes to summarize his opening statement thank you Mr [29:16] Chairman Chairman Garbarino ranking member Thompson and members of the [29:20] committee it is an honor to speak to you about the priorities and progress of U.S [29:25] citizenship and immigration services [29:27] for your partnership as we work together to uphold the rule of law, protect our [29:32] citizens, and safeguard our homeland. Let me begin by expressing my appreciation [29:36] to President Trump for his trust in me and to Secretary Noem for her leadership [29:41] at the Department of Homeland Security. I'm proud to serve alongside a workforce [29:45] that's deeply committed to advancing the President's agenda, protecting our [29:48] communities, and restoring integrity to America's legal immigration system. As [29:53] Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, my vision has been [29:57] straightforward and clear. Restore accountability to our immigration [30:01] system and ensure that it serves the interests of the American people first [30:05] and foremost. Today I want to highlight some of our most significant [30:09] accomplishments. Ending the exploitation of immigration programs, putting American [30:13] workers first, protecting our communities from public safety threats, protecting [30:18] national security, and combating immigration fraud. Fraud isn't just a [30:23] paperwork issue, it's a national security and public safety concern. Often those [30:28] who wish to do us harm [30:29] exploit weaknesses in our system. Over the past year, USCIS has made nearly [30:34] 33,000 fraud referrals to law enforcement, a 138 percent increase over [30:40] previous years. We conducted thousands of site visits to homes and workplaces [30:45] and thousands of social media checks to ensure aliens aren't espousing [30:49] anti-American sentiment. Moreover, our fraud detection and national security [30:54] team completed over 21,000 investigations, identifying fraud in [30:59] approximately 60 countries. [31:00] In the past year, USCIS has made nearly 65 percent of those cases. In [31:05] Operation Twin Shield in Minneapolis, St. Paul, back in the fall, we uncovered [31:09] marriage fraud, visa misuse, and student visa abuses, leading to denials of [31:14] immigration benefits, arrests, and removal proceedings. This work led to [31:19] Operation Paris, where we continue reexamining thousands of refugee cases [31:23] in Minnesota, conducting thorough background checks and in-person reviews. [31:28] We've also strengthened our vetting policies. If someone falsely claims U.S. [31:31] citizenship to get a public benefit or try to vote, we hold them accountable [31:35] through denial of citizenship or loss of immigration status. We've tightened [31:39] screening to determine whether claimed marriages and family relationships are [31:42] legitimate, and we've changed regulations to employment [31:48] authorization is no longer automatically extended. Now we require more [31:53] frequent renewals so that we can vet aliens more frequently and ensure that [31:57] they deserve to remain in the country. Additionally, we've taken action to end [32:02] the exploitation of immigration programs. Mass humanitarian parole programs were [32:06] being abused by the prior administration, so we've restored them to Congress's [32:10] original intent, allowing those benefits on a case-by-case basis. Secretary Noem [32:16] also ended decades of temporary protected status for several countries, [32:20] returning the program to what Congress intended—temporary protection, not [32:25] permanent status in the United States. Moreover, this administration is doing [32:30] more to ensure the integrity of our elections. [32:33] We enhanced the SAVE program so states can verify citizenship of those on their [32:37] voter rolls more effectively. Since January 2025, we've processed over 58 [32:42] million queries, and 27 states are participating. Additionally, federal [32:47] agencies ran nearly 206 million SAVE queries last year to identify fraud and [32:53] preserve public assistance benefits for lawful U.S. residents and citizens. [32:58] We're also putting American taxpayers and communities and workers [33:02] first. We affirmed that [33:04] aliens should be self-reliant, not dependent on public assistance, and that their sponsors [33:09] are liable for the cost of public benefits that they access. The Department of Homeland [33:14] Security is also working to rescind the 2022 public charge rule, restoring our discretion [33:20] to determine if an alien will rely on government assistance. We've proposed protecting American [33:25] jobs by prioritizing H-1B visas for higher-skilled, higher-paid workers so that [33:30] companies can't use those visas merely as a way to get cheaper non-citizens. [33:35] We've also streamlined agricultural visa processing to better support American farmers. [33:41] A major milestone was implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill, which added new fees for certain [33:47] immigration processes. USCIS collects those fees, but only retains a small amount of the money, [33:53] while the rest goes to other agencies and deficit reduction. Finally, protecting the American people [33:59] is at the heart of everything we do. After the attack on two brave service members of the [34:03] National Guard last November, Secretary Noem directed us to review immigration [34:07] benefits for aliens from high-risk countries. In closing, U.S. citizenship and immigration [34:14] services is restoring integrity, accountability, and security to America's legal immigration system. [34:20] These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our workforce and the transformative leadership [34:25] of President Trump and Secretary Noem, both of whom have allowed USCIS to do the job it [34:31] was created by Congress to do. We stand ready to continue working with Congress to protect [34:35] the homeland and uphold the rule of law. Thank you, and I look forward to your questions. [34:39] Thank you, Director Lowe. I now recognize Acting Director Lyons for five minutes to summarize his [34:44] opening statement. Good morning. Chairman Gavirino, Ranking Member Thompson, distinguished members of [34:51] the committee, thank you for the invitation to discuss the critical work U.S. Immigration and [34:55] Customs is doing every day to carry out President Trump's agenda to keep America safe, restore order [35:01] to our communities, and return the rule of law to this country. Under the leadership of [35:07] President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the men and women of ICE have been [35:12] empowered to do exactly what they are trained to do—arrest and remove illegal aliens and [35:16] criminals from our communities. We are enhancing public safety, securing our national security, [35:21] and finally restoring integrity to the immigration system that has been allowed to collapse. We have [35:27] supercharged our partnerships with state and local law enforcement, empowering officers around the [35:31] country through the 287 program to help ICE identify and remove criminal aliens. Those [35:37] partnerships have increased more than 900 percent since President Trump took office, and our [35:42] agency is safer for it. I am also proud of our agency's unprecedented hiring campaign that led to [35:47] hiring of more than 12,000 officers and special agents in less than a year, and more than 222,000 [35:53] individuals submitted applications. This expansion of a well-trained and well-vetted workforce will [35:59] help further ICE's abilities to execute the President's and Secretary's bold agenda. [36:04] Before discussing our broader operations, I must address the situation in Minnesota and the dangers [36:11] that ICE agents and officers face nationwide. While the investigations remain ongoing, [36:16] I am encouraged that some Minnesota officials are finally signaling the willingness to cooperate [36:21] with ICE. But let me be clear, promises are not enough. We need action. In the wake of the [36:27] unprecedented border crisis of the previous administration, ICE has stepped into the breach [36:31] to enforce the law. This commitment has a cost. We are facing the deadliest operating environment [36:37] in our agency's history. In fiscal year 2025, death threats against ICE personnel increased [36:43] more than 8,000 percent. Assaults on officers have skyrocketed over 1,400 percent. One officer [36:49] could have had his finger bitten off by a protester, egged on by elected officials characterizing our [36:54] officers as the Gestapo or secret police. The families of ICE personnel have been made to feel [37:01] unsafe in their homes. I know this firsthand because my own family was targeted. But let me [37:08] send a message to anyone who thinks they can intimidate us. You will fail. Despite these [37:13] perils, our officers continue to execute their mission with unwavering resolve, and we are only [37:18] getting started. ICE remains committed to the fundamental principles that those who illegally [37:23] enter our country must be held accountable. Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, [37:27] we have achieved historic results. From January 20, 2025 through January 20, [37:32] 2026, ICE has conducted nearly 379,000 arrests. Among those arrests were more than 7,000 suspected [37:40] gang members and over 1,400 known as suspected terrorists. The President tasked us with mass [37:47] deportation, and we are fulfilling that mandate. Thanks to the resources provided by this Congress, [37:51] we are ramping up detention-capacities and removal flights daily. [37:56] Last year alone, we conducted over 475,000 removals. It's a brutal reality that criminal immigration [38:02] today is organized by sophisticated, ruthless transnational criminal organizations. These [38:08] include cartels and transnational gangs President Trump has regularly designated at foreign terrorist [38:14] organizations. The only way to defeat them is to destroy their revenue. Within Homeland Security [38:20] investigations, our special agents are delivering critical outcomes in the fight against transnational [38:24] crime. We are seizing fentanyl before it kills our children, [38:27] and dismantling the networks that poison our communities. In FY25 alone, we seized more [38:33] than 2.5 million pounds of narcotics, a 50% increase from the previous year, and a critical [38:39] blow to transnational organization groups everywhere. HSI criminal arrests are at the [38:44] highest point in history. However, our approach is just not about enforcement. It is about restoring [38:49] order and dignity to human beings sold alive by smugglers and exploited by these TCOs. In August [38:59] 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense released a report that concluded that more than 291,000 [39:03] unaccompanied alien children out of nearly 450,000 transferred from DHS to HHS custody were simply [39:11] lost by the system. We are talking about children exploited in factories, abused in sexual trades, [39:17] and living as indentured servants on American soloing. HSI is leading the charge to fine them. [39:23] We have conducted more than 71,000 field engagements to locate children, verify sponsored [39:29] legitimacy, and uncover criminal activity related to the crime. We have conducted more than 71,000 field engagements to locate children, verify sponsored legitimacy, and uncover criminal activity related to the crime. [39:32] Since February 2025, ICE has arrested more than 500 criminal sponsors of these offenses, [39:38] including sexual exploitation and forced labor, dismantled more than 2,400 human smuggling [39:45] operations, and along with our federal partners, located more than 145,000 children. To further [39:52] ensure TCOs can never threat our nation again, President Trump dedicated the establishment of [39:57] the Homeland Security Task Force. The Homeland Security Task Forces represent the most aggressive [40:02] and coordinated attack on TCOs in history. [40:05] Through Cross-Border Financial Crime Center, we have developed and integrated a strategy to combat [40:11] rampant fraud, including government programs in Minnesota and across the country. Using this [40:15] strategy, HSI has opened numerous criminal investigations into the complex fraud systems [40:20] that have resulted in the thefts of billions. Much of the fight ICE faces can continue to be [40:28] fueled by so-called sanctuary cities. These jurisdictions provided a shield for criminal [40:34] aliens when a local jail refuses to honor ICE attainers. [40:37] releases that predator back into the community. [40:41] ICE exists to enforce America's longstanding immigration [40:45] and custom laws. [40:46] These laws are grounded in common sense, [40:48] national sovereignty, and simple morality. [40:51] Our officers and agent enforce these [40:53] without hesitation, without apology. [40:55] I ask that all the members of the community [40:57] treat them with profound respect that they have earned. [40:59] Thank you. [41:01] Thank you, Acting Director Lyons. [41:04] Members will be recognized by order of seniority [41:06] for their five minutes of questioning. [41:08] As we have, when Secretary Noem was here, [41:11] we're gonna limit it to the five minute rule. [41:14] I'm gonna be strict on that for both sides. [41:16] So do not be surprised if you go over, I gavel you down. [41:20] I now recognize myself for five minutes of questions. [41:25] Acting Director Lyons, I understand that you cannot discuss [41:27] the details of the two recent shootings in Minnesota [41:30] because they are subject of several investigations, [41:33] including by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, [41:36] and the DOJ Civil Rights Division. [41:39] Once concluded, will you commit [41:41] to providing the reports and findings [41:42] of each investigation to this committee? [41:46] Yes, Mr. Chairman, we're fully committed [41:48] to give you the full and unabridged investigation [41:50] and the outcome. [41:51] Thank you. [41:52] Commissioner Scott, can the committee [41:53] have the same commitment from you? [41:54] Yes, sir. [41:55] Thank you both. [41:58] Commissioner Scott and Acting Director Lyons, [42:00] following this hearing in writing, [42:01] I'd like to know what is the standard operating procedure [42:04] for each of your agencies for an investigation [42:07] when deadly force is used. [42:09] Currently, Acting Director Lyons, [42:12] are those procedures being followed [42:14] for the two uses of deadly force in Minneapolis [42:17] this past January? [42:19] Yes, Mr. Chairman. [42:22] Were those, and Mr. Commissioner Scott? [42:24] Yes, sir, they are. [42:26] Were the standard procedures followed from the beginning? [42:28] Mr. Lyons? [42:29] Yes, sir, they were. [42:30] Mr. Scott? [42:31] Yes, for CBP, they were as well. [42:34] Thank you very much. [42:36] We're all obviously concerned about officer safety [42:39] and have seen and heard about increasing threats [42:42] and assaults against law enforcement. [42:44] Director Lyons, are your officers trained [42:48] regarding the difference between [42:50] a protected protest [42:51] and what is unlawfully impeding law enforcement? [42:56] Yes, sir. [42:56] Deportation officers and special agents [42:58] are taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. [43:01] They are taught in defensive tactics, personal safety, [43:04] but as well as laws to include [43:07] first, second, fourth, fifth, 10th, 14th Amendment. [43:10] The officers are trained before they go out into the field [43:13] and then while they're in the field. [43:15] They are specialized training with disturbance control [43:17] and other special tactics. [43:19] Commissioner Scott, are your officers similarly trained? [43:21] Yes, they are. [43:22] At FLETC, ongoing training in the field [43:25] and then anytime we're deploying them to the interior, [43:27] they get updated law refresher training [43:30] to include First Amendment and Fourth Amendment. [43:33] So I wanna focus on the training here [43:35] because with the historic investment in both ICE and CBP, [43:40] there was a surge in hiring. [43:43] I need to know, for these new hires, [43:45] is the training different than what other agents [43:49] and officers received before the hiring surge? [43:52] Mr. Lyons, I'll let you start there. [43:55] No, sir, it's not. [43:56] The training was never, [43:57] the meat of the training was never removed. [43:59] The timeline was, we took training from five days a week, [44:03] eight hours a day to six days a week, 12 hours a day. [44:06] In addition to that, training is different in the fact [44:10] that before officers even go [44:11] to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy, [44:13] there's pre-employment training, which we never had before. [44:16] And on top of that, [44:17] we've adapted our on-the-job training program, [44:19] which is much like a city or state [44:21] field training officer program [44:23] that once they are removed [44:25] from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy [44:27] and have graduated, [44:28] before they return to their field offices, [44:30] they're assigned a field training officer, [44:31] and that's continued on after that. [44:33] So let me get to this, for ICE officers, [44:37] the curriculum has stayed the same, [44:39] but it's now a quicker training? [44:40] The timeline has moved up? [44:42] That's correct, sir. [44:43] Okay, but the curriculum is the same? [44:45] Yes, sir. [44:46] All right, Commissioner Scott, [44:48] can you talk about if there's been a change in training [44:51] since the hiring surge? [44:53] There's been no change in the training [44:55] within Customs and Border Protection. [44:57] Border Patrol agents go through a 117-day academy. [45:00] The CBP officers go through a 103-day academy. [45:02] That's actually training days. [45:04] There's been no changes to that. [45:05] So the only change that has been made [45:07] is in our quarterly training. [45:09] We've added scenarios based on what we most likely think [45:12] they will encounter in the field. [45:14] So we've encountered some of, [45:15] we've actually added some of the protest-type encounters [45:18] as well. [45:19] So there's been no change in the timeline either? [45:22] Same with ICE, did that, you did not? [45:24] No, we did not. [45:25] Okay, and while, this is another thing while, [45:29] because this is my last question, I'm sure. [45:31] While understanding there are not suitable fabrications [45:33] every occasion, there's been a lot of talk [45:35] about the use of deadly force. [45:39] Are agents and officers equipped with and trained [45:42] in the use of tasers or other less lethal alternatives [45:46] to avoid the use of deadly force? [45:48] And Mr. Director Lyons, I'll start with you, [45:50] and then Mr. Scott, you can finish. [45:52] Yes, sir, every deportation officer special agent [45:54] are trained in. [45:55] They carry secondary weapons, which include the taser, [45:58] OC spray, and baton. [46:00] They're trained. [46:01] And those are made available. [46:02] And they're equipped? [46:03] Yes, sir. [46:04] Mr. Scott? [46:05] It's a similar answer that all of our agents [46:07] have to carry a secondary weapon. [46:08] They get trained at the academy, [46:10] and then they go through quarterly refresher training [46:13] every three months. [46:15] Okay, I appreciate it. [46:15] I will have, I'm sure, some follow-up questions today, [46:19] and I will submit those to you in writing. [46:22] But with that, I yield back, [46:24] and I now recognize the ranking member [46:25] for five minutes of questions. [46:27] Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. [46:29] Mr. Lyons, how many ICE agents have cameras, as of today? [46:36] Sir, as of today, more than 3,000 ICE officers [46:39] have cameras that are active in the field, [46:40] with another 6,000 being deployed, sir. [46:44] So how many in the field? [46:47] How many ICE agents are in the field as of today? [46:50] Oh, I'm sorry, sir. [46:51] Agents in the field today? [46:53] You said agents in the field. [46:55] I'm just trying to get the number of ICE agents [46:58] who have cameras on their body as of today. [47:02] approximately 3,000 sir 3,000 out of how many out of 13 approximately 13,000 sir [47:10] that are in the field so you have 3,000 out of 13,000 who have cameras yes sir [47:15] mr. Scott I don't have the actual number in front of me right now it's about [47:19] 10,000 we're building that program out as we speak 10,000 out of how many out [47:26] of about 67,000 but there's the ports of entry we have significant no no I don't [47:33] want to go to ports and I just want to know how many cameras right now do you [47:39] have on your agents when you say agents Border Patrol agents there's about 10,000 [47:44] 10,000 10,000 out of how many out of 20,000 Border Patrol agents so half of [47:52] them approximately yes so I'll give you a chance to look at that since you said [47:57] approximately and get back to the committee on what's the accurate number [48:00] not how many you're purchasing how many as of this day understood and I will get [48:06] you that number [48:06] thank you mr. Lyons what's the regular timetable of training and ice agent [48:15] sorry about that sir right now the training is approximately 47 days at the [48:24] Federal Law Enforcement Academy overall training is about three months sir so [48:29] you went from three months to 47 days no no sir the whole total training to [48:34] include the pre-employment training and then the OJT program is three months and [48:39] 47 days in the law enforcement federal law enforcement training Academy so they [48:45] go to [48:45] the [49:02] to come on board we reduced the timeline for the previous certified federal law [49:08] enforcement officers or special special agents where we went to the ones who are [49:12] already trained in firearms and defensive tactics and for the first three months [49:16] and criminal procedure we adapted to a shorter program so they would just have the extensive [49:23] immigration nationality act training immigration law and ice specific training so if you hired [49:29] somebody for ice today how much training would they receive before they become a full-time agent [49:36] so for a person off the street who has never been a law enforcement officer they're looking at [49:41] approximately three months of training sir and the 47 days is for who that is for everyone that [49:48] hasn't uh who's never worked for icer so you could have someone that's a capital police officer [49:54] they would not have to go through extended training for when it comes to defensive tactics [50:01] firearms etc they would have to go to the rigorous immigration training which unfortunately [50:06] immigration law is just as confusing and long as tax code which we have to ensure that we devote [50:11] that extensive time to thank you so much but yes sir would you provide the committee uh with the [50:17] timeline yes sir [50:18] we will [50:21] we will provide you some of us understand it's 47 days yes sir we will provide you telling us it's [50:26] three months from the beginning sir when they go ahead and come on pre-employment training to the [50:31] ojt program afterwards but we will provide the committee with a full breakdown uh for mr lyons [50:37] and mr scott over the past several weeks the president has made a series of comments regarding [50:44] the midterm election uh the president has urged my republican colleagues in congress [50:51] to nationalize elections now are you involved in any planning on guarding precincts [51:00] in this country as of today mr scott no sir mr lions no sir so there's no information you've [51:10] not been asked to start deploying people for areas anywhere no sir well thank you very much [51:18] uh mr lyons i'll get it in writing mr chairman i'm going to follow you [51:25] your directions on that gentleman yields back thank you ranking member i now recognize the [51:33] gentleman from texas mr mccall for five minutes of questions famous chairman you know a decade [51:40] ago when i chaired this committee mr thompson and i passed a bill to authorize ice into law [51:48] it was a bipartisan effort it passed the house overwhelmingly both republican and democrat [51:57] a decade later here we are the dones have called to abolish ice [52:03] now they're trying to shut it down so what has happened in that 10 years let's go back to the [52:10] last five four to five years what happened in this country and at the border as a a [52:19] someone who lives in a border state of texas we saw the most dangerous wide open border that i've [52:26] seen in my 22 years in congress 10 to 12 million people and that's what we know about i think it's [52:31] far greater came into this country many of them dangerous violent criminals some known or [52:40] suspected terrorists which i find extremely dangerous that's why i served as an impeachment [52:46] manager for my orcas because he violated federal law the federal statute says as a former federal [52:54] prosecutor i know this shall detain aggravated felons what did my orcas do he told his agents [53:02] that's discretionary [53:03] you can release them as a result we had tens of thousands of aggravated felons [53:12] left on the streets of america to roam freely not to to mention the the human and sex trafficking [53:20] of children mr lyons as you pointed out so what is the administration trying to do they're trying [53:26] to remove a public safety threat from the united states of america that is their job [53:32] restoring public safety should be the number one [53:36] priority and [53:36] of the problems here as i examine it is that minnesota minneapolis in particular is a sanctuary [53:43] city what does that mean that means that it's a magnet for illegal they're protected under [53:49] the current situation because state and locals will not cooperate with federal law enforcement [53:54] in fact mr lyons is it not true that they were not honoring ice detainers that were [54:01] put on dangerous felons in prison so that you could remove them from the united states that's [54:08] correct so the detainers were on were not honored at the local level in minneapolis this is the [54:13] number one violation in addition the rhetoric on the left led to over a thousand percent increase [54:20] in assaults on ice officers an increase of over 8 000 of death threats to them all this [54:30] created a perfect storm for our officers being thrown into this situation and then agent bovino [54:38] came into the picture and I would argue in fairness that he escalated the [54:43] situation by the way that was handled. Your officers are not trained to [54:50] effectuate crowd control. They are trained to move in surgically, go in and [54:57] remove these dangerous violent criminals from the United States of America. I've [55:03] called for de-escalation after the two deaths, the two shootings that took place. [55:07] I believe that these roving patrols should be done at the border rather than [55:12] in the the major cities of the United States. So when the president decided to [55:18] remove agent Bovino and put in Tom Homan, who I've known for years, a consummate [55:26] professional, law enforcement professional, I commended the president. [55:31] And what has been done since Mr. Homan came into the job? We now have targeted [55:37] law enforcement operations, [55:39] he is returning to the original mission of ICE. He is working with state locals [55:46] to do the crowd control. He is getting them to honor the ICE detainers. He is [55:53] also getting the body cameras put on them. And the roving patrols, in his words [56:00] to me, should be done at the border, not in major cities. My question to you, Mr. [56:04] Lyons, is Mr. Homan now, are his operations in Minneapolis now bringing [56:09] the situation under control? [56:11] So we've seen a de-escalation in the fact that we, the protests, while they [56:19] still go on, have subsided and ICE has been allowed to do their targeted [56:23] intelligence-driven enforcement operation. Just the other night, local [56:26] authorities arrested 54 protesters at the local level, where ICE officers did [56:32] not have to be engaged in that. [56:34] My final question to you, do you believe the model that Mr. Homan is now [56:37] setting in Minneapolis should be a model for the nation? [56:40] Gentleman's time has expired, I understand that, but I'm [56:44] holding it for five minutes. [56:45] I'd like on the record an answer, Mr. Chairman. Do you agree that Mr. Homan's [56:47] model is one for the nation? [56:50] Gentleman's time has expired. [56:51] Yes or no? [56:52] I now recognize the gentleman from California, Mr. Swalwell, for five minutes. [56:56] A couple nights ago, I met with a woman who works as a cashier at a grocery store, [57:02] and I told her I was coming to see you, Mr. Lyons, and she said, will you ask him, and [57:08] she didn't want to give her name, she was terrified to give her name, but she said, [57:11] when I get off my shift around midnight, and I walk through the parking lot, and I walk [57:14] through the parking lot, and I walk through the parking lot, and I walk through the parking [57:15] lot, to my car, she said, if somebody rolls up in an unidentified van, and gets out wearing [57:22] all black, and their face is covered, and they don't have any identification, and they [57:27] ask me to get into the van, how do I know who they are? [57:36] How does she know, Mr. Lyons? [57:37] How does she know if they're an ICE agent or bad guys? [57:40] Sir, ICE agents have identifiable placards on their uniforms, as well as their badges [57:46] representative, but you won't see ICE agents rolling through the parking lots and just [57:50] snatching someone up. [57:51] ICE does intelligence-driven targeted enforcement operations. [57:55] Well, Mr. Homan and others have said that they target individuals based on the color [58:00] of their skin and the accents that they speak, and that's why people are running through [58:03] the fields and factories where they work. [58:06] Director Lyons, last year you said in Phoenix at the Border Security Expo that you wanted [58:10] to see a deportation process that was like, quote, Amazon Prime, but with human beings. [58:17] Mr. Lyons, how many times has Amazon Prime shot a mom three times in the face? [58:22] None, sir. [58:23] It's the square root of zero. [58:25] That's right. [58:26] Yes, sir. [58:27] Yeah, but if we're going to go down that route of my comment, I did say that comment. [58:29] However, that comment was taken out. [58:31] If you go back and watch the video, I did say that we need to be more efficient when [58:37] it comes to removing individuals from the United States because ICE doesn't detain punitively. [58:41] We detain to remove. [58:43] I don't want to see people in custody. [58:44] At the end of my statement was, and again, to your point, it was a industry day for AI [58:50] and efficiencies. [58:51] But I did say at the end of it. [58:53] But we deal with human beings. [58:53] We deal with human beings. [58:53] We deal with human beings. [58:53] We deal with human beings. [58:53] We deal with human beings. [58:53] We deal with human beings. [58:53] We deal with human beings. [58:53] We deal with human beings, so we can't be like them. [58:56] That's the key part that you're leaving out. [58:58] Well, speaking of human beings, how many times has Amazon Prime shot a nurse 10 times in [59:03] the back? [59:03] None. [59:04] How many times has Amazon Prime dragged a woman out of a car by her hair and then dragged [59:08] her down the street? [59:09] None. [59:11] How many ICE agents have been fired for their conduct under your leadership? [59:15] Sir, I can get you that data. [59:17] I'll get that back to you. [59:19] Is it more than one? [59:20] I'm not going to speak about personnel actions, but I'll get you that data. [59:24] Can you tell us if at least, God, I hope at least. [59:27] One person has been fired for their conduct since these operations have begun. [59:31] Are you telling us you can't even say one person's been fired? [59:33] Sir, I'm not going to talk about personnel actions, but we will get back to you. [59:36] But two people have been killed so far. [59:38] Is that right? [59:40] A nurse named Preddy and a mom named Good. [59:42] Two people have been killed so far. [59:44] Yes, sir. [59:47] Mr. Lyons, will you apologize to the family of Renee Good for being called a domestic [59:52] terrorist by the president and his leadership? [59:56] No, sir. [59:56] Why not? [59:57] Sir, I welcome the opportunity to speak to the family in private, but I'm not going to [1:00:02] comment on any active investigation. [1:00:04] Is she a domestic terrorist? [1:00:06] Sir, I'm not going to comment on the investigation. [1:00:09] And the president and Secretary Noem are elected officials. [1:00:13] That's their right to their comments. [1:00:14] But as law enforcement, career law enforcement, we won't speak to any. [1:00:17] Do you agree with their comments? [1:00:19] Sir, I'm not going to go ahead and talk about any ongoing investigation. [1:00:22] Will you apologize to the family of Alex Preddy for also being called a domestic terrorist? [1:00:27] Sir, again, I'm not going to speak to any ongoing investigation. [1:00:31] Mr. Lyons, you're staying to lead ICE is a decision. [1:00:36] Sir, I'm sorry. [1:00:38] Could you repeat that? [1:00:38] You're staying on to lead ICE is a decision. [1:00:40] And I've read your background. [1:00:42] You have a decorated career. [1:00:44] You've served in the military. [1:00:47] You are what I would call otherwise employable. [1:00:51] I think most people would agree this is not the only job that you can get. [1:00:54] But since you've been on this job, women have been dragged by their hair through our streets. [1:01:02] A six-year-old child battling stage four cancer has been deported. [1:01:06] And it turns out he was a U.S. citizen. [1:01:09] People are running through the fields where they... [1:01:12] work. [1:01:13] People who've gone to the streets as allies have been shot and publicly executed. [1:01:20] It's a decision to stay on at this point. [1:01:24] And considering your honorable service in the past and the dishonorable acts that those who have worked for you have conducted and the disgraceful statements that the leadership above you have said, you now have a decision. [1:01:40] Will you stand with the kids who you're supposed to protect? [1:01:44] Or will you side with the killers bringing terror to our streets? [1:01:47] Mr. Lyons, will you resign from ICE? [1:01:51] No, sir, I won't. [1:01:52] Why not? [1:01:53] Because, sir, that child that you're showing right there, the men and women of ICE took care of him when his father abandoned him and ran from law enforcement. [1:01:59] The gentleman's time has expired. [1:02:00] You never should have gone into custody. [1:02:01] The gentleman's time has expired. [1:02:02] I recognize the gentleman from Mississippi. [1:02:03] You're back. [1:02:04] Just a guess for five minutes. [1:02:06] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:02:08] Mr. Chairman, we stand on the verge of a second Democrat shutdown of the United States Department of Homeland Security just within the last 90 days. [1:02:18] The Department of Homeland Security... [1:02:19] The Department of Homeland Security employs 260,000 men and women across 22 different agencies. [1:02:27] Those agencies include 63,000 men and women who work for CBP, 60,000 who work for TSA, 22,000 for FEMA, 18,000 who works for USCIS, almost 50,000 civilian and military employees with the United States Coast Guard, 7,800 Secret Service employees, [1:02:50] 7,800 Secret Service employees, 20,000 U.S. military employees, and 50,000 U.S. military employees with the United States Coast Guard. [1:02:50] 2,500 CISA employees and over 8,000 agents and analysts with the Department of Homeland Security investigation who perform a crucial function, a crucial function to protect and serve this country. [1:03:09] This second government shutdown, led by my friends on the Democrat side of the aisle, will leave our country less safe. [1:03:20] Don't just take my word for it. [1:03:22] Let's look at the words of the Biden administration. [1:03:24] President Biden and Kamala Harris, Department of Homeland Security, in September of 2023, as the nation faced a potential government shutdown, they issued a fact sheet. [1:03:39] That fact sheet is entitled, The Impact of Government Shutdown on the DHS Workforce. [1:03:46] This fact sheet says this. [1:03:49] It says DHS workforce is comprised of extraordinary public servants who safeguard this nation. [1:03:59] It goes on to say any lapse in federal funding would disrupt this vital work, leaving Americans less safe as a result. [1:04:08] Those working without pay include law enforcement, conducting such acts as seizing illegal narcotics like fentanyl, combating child exploitation and child predators, identify and arresting human trafficking, responding to natural disasters, preventing cyber attacks, and protecting U.S. government leaders. [1:04:31] And so I ask you, gentlemen, as we are once again on the verge of a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, if the Democrats take us to the edge, if they refuse to sign a CR, if once again the men and women who serve under your leadership, if they are once again not paid, I ask you, how will that impact our nation? [1:04:57] Will America be more safe or will America be less safe if we are once again led into a situation where we are not paid? [1:05:04] Will America be more safe or will America be less safe if we are once again led into a situation where we are not paid? [1:05:37] Now, the bills don't stop, do they not? The bills continue to accrue. [1:05:41] Correct. [1:05:42] And the deployment of technology ceases in many cases, and America becomes less safe. Would you agree with that statement? [1:05:52] I would agree America becomes less safe. [1:05:54] Mr. Adler, what about you? [1:05:55] Well, Congressman, as I'm sure you're aware, USCIS is a little different in that we are fee-funded, so during a shutdown, the men and women working for USCIS will continue to be paid. [1:06:07] However, in terms of our... [1:06:08] 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. [1:06:21] 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. [1:06:31] And Mr. Lanz? [1:06:34] Yes, sir. It will have a great impact, especially on the Homeland Security Task Forces. [1:06:37] And the men and women that are focused on the transnational crime and former terrorist organization. [1:06:42] Mr. Lanz, very quickly, we've had many members of this committee who have made allegations that Democrats have once again taken the mantle of the party to defund the police and abolish ICE. [1:06:54] Do you wish to take my last few seconds to speak about the consequences that has on the men and women that you serve? [1:07:00] The men and women of ICE have sworn law enforcement officers who are dedicated to the mission of protecting the United States. [1:07:06] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. [1:07:09] The gentleman yields back. I now recognize a gentleman from California, Mr. Correa. Five minutes of questions. [1:07:14] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to welcome our witnesses today. [1:07:18] Gentlemen, I wanted to start out by talking a little bit about my district, Southern California, Disneyland. [1:07:27] Southern California is the center of manufacturing for the United States. California, biggest act state union. [1:07:36] California, also. Big donor taxpayer dollars to the United States. [1:07:45] President Trump got elected on the promise to deport the worst of the worst. [1:07:50] Your numbers, Mr. Lanz, less than 14% of those arrested by ICE first year, 2025, had charges or convictions of violent violence. [1:08:03] 70% of those deported had not even a traffic ticket. [1:08:09] Mr. Lanz, I think we're all patriots, but I'm trying to figure out how, this is a question to you, sir, [1:08:17] Mr. Lanz, I think we're all patriots, but I'm trying to figure out how, this is a question to you, sir, [1:08:18] how deporting a nanny makes our nation safer, stronger? [1:08:21] How trying to deport the father of three Marines make this country stronger? [1:08:27] How deporting the parents of a number of Marines at Camp Pendleton makes this nation stronger? [1:08:34] Sir, thank you for your welcome, first off. [1:08:38] Just to address the numbers with the 14%, sir, that's 14% that are listed as violent criminal felonies. [1:08:46] However, what's left out of that is the fact that what's left off that list... [1:08:49] Those 70%, they don't have a traffic ticket and deported. [1:08:54] How has that made our nation stronger? [1:08:56] Sir, if you look at what ICE has done, more than 60% of every individual that is in ICE custody has a pending or a conviction on a criminal charge. [1:09:05] Sir, let me move ahead. I only have three minutes and we'll talk later. [1:09:09] Let's talk about American citizens. [1:09:11] Again, back home. [1:09:16] People, young people asking me, what do I have to carry with me so I won't be deported? [1:09:23] Is Mr. Lyons carrying a passport, is that enough so they won't be detained or deported in my district? [1:09:30] Sir, an American citizen shouldn't carry or shouldn't feel the need to carry... [1:09:34] Let me tell you what some of your ICE agents have done. [1:09:36] They pulled over a gentleman in a pickup truck, showed his passport, they threw it to the side, detained him. [1:09:43] What do we have to do to show that we're American citizens? [1:09:48] Sir, no American citizen falls under Title VIII. No American citizen will be arrested for being an American citizen. [1:09:53] But you just said to my colleague that... [1:09:55] Nobody has been fired because of violations of the law for disciplinary actions, yet this is happening in my district. [1:10:03] Mr. Lyons, we're a very boring district. [1:10:06] We work hard, mind our own business. [1:10:10] ICE in our streets now. People are terrorized. [1:10:13] American citizens, number of cases of Americans being detained, being taken in, some being held for five days. [1:10:23] Sir, what do we do with those people in that situation? [1:10:27] What do we tell them? [1:10:30] Sir, I don't know of any particular cases you're speaking of American citizens being held... [1:10:34] I'm more than happy to provide you a list, sir. [1:10:36] One hundred percent, sir. [1:10:38] So, let me ask you, sir. Are you surveilling U.S. citizens today? [1:10:44] No, sir. [1:10:47] Those people protesting, practicing the First Amendment, right? [1:10:50] Photos of them? Data taken? They're not being placed in any kind of a database? [1:10:57] There is no database for protest, sir. [1:10:59] One of your officers in Maine said to one of the individuals, [1:11:01] protesting, we're going to put your face in a little database. [1:11:07] What does that mean? Do you have a little database of Americans? [1:11:10] No, sir. We don't. [1:11:12] Then what do you think your ICE agent was doing to this individual when he said those statements? [1:11:16] I can't speak for that individual, sir, but I can assure you there is no database that's tracking United States citizens. [1:11:21] Sir, California, we're a sanctuary state. Does that cause you a problem picking up individuals? [1:11:30] Yes, sir. [1:11:32] I have with me today some data from Sheriff Barnes, Orange County Sheriff. [1:11:36] Very good friend. He's been here to testify numerous times. [1:11:41] For 2025, he referred about 300 individuals for your office to pick up. [1:11:50] 250 were picked up. 50 were never picked up. [1:11:53] We had a long conversation saying, what is going on? [1:11:56] If these are the worst of the worst, you've called ICE to pick them up, and you didn't pick them up. [1:12:01] Can you explain to us why you didn't pick up all these individuals [1:12:04] that were referred to your office to pick up? [1:12:06] Yes, sir. That's the key part of that is the referral. [1:12:09] We make sure that those individuals are eligible to be placed in detention for movability. [1:12:14] You never even looked at those individuals. [1:12:18] I would like to talk to you about this issue later on, Mr. Lyons. [1:12:21] Thank you very much. [1:12:22] The time has expired. I now recognize the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Pflueger, for five minutes of questions. [1:12:26] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Why are we here? [1:12:30] And I think it's pretty clear that until proven otherwise, at five years of experience, [1:12:35] that it seems like one side of the aisle is in favor of open borders and wants to abolish ICE. [1:12:44] And I hope that that can be proven wrong. [1:12:47] And the other side of the aisle wants to enforce the laws that are on the books. [1:12:52] Commissioner Scott, how many administrations have you worked for in your career? [1:12:57] Since the Clinton administration. [1:12:59] So multiple Republicans, multiple Democrats. [1:13:03] Correct. [1:13:04] Is it a crime to enter this country illegally and to skip a notice to appear, [1:13:07] to skip a court-ordered appearance, and to not comply with the laws that are on the books? [1:13:13] Yes, sir. [1:13:14] Has that changed since you started working for President Clinton? [1:13:17] No. [1:13:18] So I can't imagine establishing the fact that it is a crime to skip a notice to appear. [1:13:25] We had 10 to 12 million people who entered this country illegally in the Biden administration. [1:13:31] As a conservative estimate, there are sanctuary cities all throughout the United States who have said, [1:13:36] we will not comply with federal laws. [1:13:38] That's why we're here today. [1:13:40] I can't imagine being a DHS officer, an ICE officer, and being threatened with violence, [1:13:47] having death threats, being doxxed, having your family identified, putting that on the internet, [1:13:53] and violently telling you that they are going to kill you because you are enforcing the laws that are on this book [1:14:00] that were passed by both sides of the aisle in this body. [1:14:03] Director Lyons, how many of your agents are being doxxed, threatened, or harassed? [1:14:07] We have 10. [1:14:09] We've had over an 8,000% increase on death threats. [1:14:12] You know, I'm in the middle of working a bipartisan domestic terrorism working group with another member on this committee. [1:14:21] There is a group called Defend 612 that has come out with tactics, techniques, and procedures in Minneapolis [1:14:30] to do things like encourage protesters to impede law enforcement, [1:14:34] to push civilians towards legally and physically risky confrontations, [1:14:38] to help mobilize a counter protest, [1:14:40] to coordinate strategies and trainings to aid illegal immigrants to avoid detention. [1:14:46] Are you familiar with groups like this, Defend 612? [1:14:49] Yes, sir. We have multiple groups around that in all 50 states. [1:14:53] There's an article written by Christina Buttons, and I'd like unanimous consent to enter this into the record called [1:14:59] Inside Minneapolis' ICE Watch Network. [1:15:02] Chairman, I seek unanimous consent to enter this. [1:15:06] Without objection. [1:15:07] This article talks about these tactics, techniques, and procedures that put your law enforcement agents [1:15:11] and your agents at risk. [1:15:13] What is different about Minneapolis? [1:15:15] What kind of coordination have you received from the local police department? [1:15:18] We don't see any of this in Texas. [1:15:21] We've not seen, and there have been many ICE operations that have happened in Texas, [1:15:24] but what's different from what you've seen in Minneapolis? [1:15:27] Unfortunately, sir, in the beginning of the Minneapolis operation, [1:15:31] we didn't see any cooperation at the state or the local level, [1:15:34] whether it be from the Minneapolis Police Department or the Minnesota State Police, [1:15:38] which led to ICE officers and agents, as well as our other federal partners, [1:15:41] pretty much having to defend themselves from whatever impediment, riots, or protests. [1:15:47] Were they told by local elected officials not to cooperate? [1:15:50] Yes, sir. [1:15:51] Is that because they're a sanctuary city? [1:15:53] I'm assuming that's what it is, sir, but I can't speak to the mind of those elected officials, [1:15:58] but they were ordered not to stand down. [1:16:00] How did it make you feel as somebody who carries out the laws that this body has passed [1:16:04] when you hear the mayor of Minneapolis say, F ICE? [1:16:07] Well, sir, it's, I mean, from a morale standpoint, it hurts us, [1:16:11] to the fact that for decades, we've been in this situation, [1:16:13] for decades, and I've worked since President Bush, [1:16:16] ICE has always been in Minneapolis. [1:16:18] We've always been in every major city and state, [1:16:20] so it wasn't like it was a brand new thing. [1:16:22] We've always been doing immigration enforcement, so that's demoralizing. [1:16:25] Commissioner Scott, are you separating families? [1:16:29] No. [1:16:30] Tell me about when you served President Obama. [1:16:34] Has anything changed in the policy of deportation, [1:16:38] and how many people did President Obama deport? [1:16:41] I don't have that number in front of me. [1:16:43] Policies and how things are enforced do change. [1:16:46] The laws have not changed. [1:16:48] I believe what you're referring to is literally when someone is arrested, [1:16:52] whether it's on immigration or whether it's a normal criminal offense, [1:16:57] and they have children, we don't necessarily prosecute the children. [1:17:01] But when someone's deported, if they want to take their children with them, [1:17:04] they have that right. [1:17:05] We do not separate them. [1:17:06] I hope that the other side of the aisle will read this article on Defense 612 [1:17:10] and look at the tactics, techniques, and procedures. [1:17:12] And if this is domestic terrorism, where we have a group that's on signal [1:17:16] that is calling out agents and doing things to interrupt, intercede, [1:17:20] and prevent law enforcement from carrying out the laws that this body passed, [1:17:24] that you'll have the courage to call it domestic terrorism if it is that way. [1:17:28] And I yield back. [1:17:29] The gentleman yields back. [1:17:31] And I now recognize the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Panadar, [1:17:34] for five minutes of questions. [1:17:37] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good morning to our witnesses. [1:17:41] Commissioner Scott, [1:17:47] did the ICU nurse, Alex Pretty, deserve to die? [1:17:53] I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, sir. [1:17:59] Do you believe that he deserved to die? [1:18:02] Should he be killed by your agents? [1:18:06] I'm not going to comment on an ongoing investigation, sir, [1:18:08] before it's concluded and all the facts are available. [1:18:11] Do you agree with CBP Commander Bovino's statement [1:18:18] that Alex Pretty was planning to massacre law enforcement agents? [1:18:23] I'm not going to comment on an ongoing investigation, sir. [1:18:27] Director Lyons, did Rene Goode deserve to die? [1:18:34] Sir, I can't comment on ongoing investigations. [1:18:38] Director Lyons, do you agree with Secretary Noem [1:18:42] and Vice President Vance's characterization of Rene Goode [1:18:46] as a domestic terrorist? [1:18:50] Sir, I can't speak to their comments as they are their own, [1:18:53] but as an ongoing investigation, I can't speak to that. [1:18:56] Director Lyons, what did your agents mean [1:19:00] when he said, [1:19:02] you raise your voice, I erase your voice, [1:19:05] in the video just that we have seen, all of us have seen? [1:19:10] Sir, I'm not aware of that video that you have, sir. [1:19:13] I can't comment on what that officer has said. [1:19:15] Does that statement, if that statement, [1:19:19] if I show you the video of that, [1:19:21] does that statement reflect the value of your agency? [1:19:25] And does ICE respect and adhere to the First Amendment? [1:19:29] Yes, sir, ICE does respect and refer to the First Amendment. [1:19:32] But that doesn't respect, [1:19:34] that, well, your statement that you said [1:19:36] doesn't represent the values of the men and women of ICE. [1:19:40] Commissioner Scott, does CBP respect and adhere [1:19:43] to the First and Second Amendment? [1:19:45] Yes, we do. [1:19:46] Don't you agree that Alex Brady had every right [1:19:51] to exercise his First and Second Amendment freedoms [1:19:56] before being shot in the streets by one of your agents? [1:20:03] I believe that every person in the United States [1:20:05] has a right to their constitutional rights. [1:20:07] Look, I have heard and seen enough. [1:20:13] I'm just sick and tired of your agents [1:20:17] running around in our cities, in our streets, [1:20:21] causing illegal activities. [1:20:25] ICE and CBP thugs are roaming our streets, [1:20:30] attacking our communities, [1:20:33] using our children as bait, [1:20:37] referring to people as bodies and numbers, [1:20:41] targeting people for their accents, [1:20:45] and the color of their skin, [1:20:49] and killing American citizens, [1:20:52] all while showing zero remorse for their actions. [1:20:57] Director Lyons and Commissioner Scott, [1:21:02] do you think President Trump will pardon you [1:21:06] and your boss, Christine Ohm, [1:21:10] before he leaves office, [1:21:12] just like he has for insurrectionists [1:21:16] and his political allies? [1:21:18] Do you believe? [1:21:21] President Trump will pardon you, [1:21:24] because... [1:21:25] Go ahead. [1:21:27] I'm not going to speak on behalf of President Trump, [1:21:29] but I'll tell you, [1:21:30] I signed up for this job to protect America, [1:21:33] and I'm very proud of the service that I provide, [1:21:36] and I don't need a pardon from anybody. [1:21:38] Well, you better hope so. [1:21:39] You better hope you get pardoned, [1:21:41] because you will be held accountable [1:21:43] for the absolute disregard of the law [1:21:46] your agencies have shown over the past year. [1:21:50] Your agencies have lost the trust, [1:21:52] the trust of the American people, [1:21:57] with millions taking to the streets [1:22:00] to protect the illegal actions of your agencies. [1:22:06] And that's why I introduced a bill [1:22:08] in the United States Congress [1:22:11] to abolish ICE. [1:22:13] ICE must be abolished. [1:22:18] I also cosponsored a bill [1:22:22] to impeach Secretary Christine Ohm, [1:22:24] and I believe Christine Ohm must be impeached, [1:22:30] and this Congress must do [1:22:31] everything in its power [1:22:33] to carry out oversight actions [1:22:35] against these rogue departments, [1:22:38] including... [1:22:39] The gentleman's time has expired. [1:22:41] A witness has requested a break. [1:22:45] The committee will recess for five minutes. [1:22:47] Members of the audience will remain seated. [1:22:50] The committee will come to order. [1:31:18] I now recognize the gentleman from Texas, [1:31:24] Mr. Gonzalez, [1:31:25] for five minutes of questions. [1:31:26] Thank you, Chairman, [1:31:27] and thank you, gentlemen, [1:31:28] for your service to our great country. [1:31:30] I was speaking to someone [1:31:32] about some agents that were deployed [1:31:34] from Texas to Minnesota, [1:31:35] just asking for the ground truth [1:31:36] of what was happening. [1:31:37] And one of the things that stood out to me [1:31:38] is one of the agents said, [1:31:39] Tony, it reminds me a lot of Fallujah. [1:31:41] Having someone that served in Fallujah, [1:31:43] that caught my attention. [1:31:44] And so my question first is to you, [1:31:46] Commissioner Scott, [1:31:47] is on the safety of our agents. [1:31:50] In particular, [1:31:51] I see that these task forces work, [1:31:53] these anti-gang, [1:31:54] these anti-terrorism task forces. [1:31:56] But thinking of Fallujah reminds me [1:31:58] of we were fighting a war [1:32:00] that was the Persian Gulf [1:32:02] and the world had changed. [1:32:03] And so my question is, [1:32:05] is there a way we can protect [1:32:06] our law enforcement, [1:32:08] our federal law enforcement agents? [1:32:10] In particular, [1:32:11] through, [1:32:12] I've got a bill in particular [1:32:13] through bulletproof glass [1:32:15] or ballistic windshields. [1:32:18] Is that something you think [1:32:20] that could help protect [1:32:21] the law enforcement officers [1:32:23] that are on the front lines? [1:32:24] I think that can help protect [1:32:26] the officers on the front lines, [1:32:27] but it goes much farther than that [1:32:28] because things have changed. [1:32:30] So the tactical infrastructure, [1:32:32] the border, [1:32:33] the bulletproof vests, [1:32:34] all of that, [1:32:35] that helps tremendously. [1:32:36] But we're fighting [1:32:37] a different fight now. [1:32:38] The reason you saw so many people [1:32:39] surged into LA at one point [1:32:41] and then now into Minneapolis [1:32:43] was because we had to surge [1:32:44] additional resources [1:32:45] in to protect the ICE agents [1:32:46] that were literally just going [1:32:48] to try to make a lawful arrest. [1:32:50] So we had to put in two teams, [1:32:51] one to do the arrest [1:32:52] and another one to deal [1:32:53] with the protesters. [1:32:55] Luckily, CBP, [1:32:56] well, not luckily, [1:32:57] unfortunately, [1:32:58] CBPs had to build out [1:32:59] this capability over the years [1:33:00] because we had been dealing [1:33:01] with increased protests [1:33:03] at the border, [1:33:04] mass incursions. [1:33:05] So we trained our people [1:33:06] how to do crowd control. [1:33:08] But let's not miss the fact [1:33:09] that we have coordinated, [1:33:10] well-funded, [1:33:12] and I think insurgencies [1:33:13] or terrorist organizations, [1:33:14] however you want to call it, [1:33:16] literally trying to prevent [1:33:17] legal laws from being enforced [1:33:19] in the United States. [1:33:20] That is a dramatic change. [1:33:21] That's why we've had to shift. [1:33:22] So we've got to figure out [1:33:23] how to protect our officers [1:33:24] and agents more holistically [1:33:26] on social media. [1:33:27] How do we keep them [1:33:28] from being doxxed? [1:33:29] When somebody goes to, [1:33:30] like, did a job [1:33:31] to Director Lyons, [1:33:32] they follow his kid home [1:33:34] and then have protests [1:33:35] in his front yard [1:33:36] and then put it out [1:33:37] live on video. [1:33:38] That needs to be a crime. [1:33:39] I don't want to violate [1:33:41] anybody's right to free speech, [1:33:43] but going into your front yard [1:33:44] and harassing your family [1:33:45] just because you're [1:33:46] a law enforcement officer, [1:33:47] that should not be [1:33:48] a protected action. [1:33:49] The world has changed, [1:33:50] and we need to change with it [1:33:51] to make sure our federal [1:33:52] law enforcement officers [1:33:53] and their families [1:33:54] are protected. [1:33:55] My next question [1:33:56] is for Director Lyons. [1:33:57] Body cameras have been deployed [1:33:59] in Minnesota. [1:34:01] I think transparency [1:34:02] helps regain public trust. [1:34:04] Is there any plan [1:34:05] to release any of the footage [1:34:07] to the public? [1:34:08] 100%, sir. [1:34:09] That's one thing [1:34:10] that I'm committed to [1:34:11] is the full transparency, [1:34:12] and I fully welcome [1:34:14] body cameras all across [1:34:15] the spectrum in all [1:34:16] of our law enforcement activities. [1:34:17] And yes, sir, [1:34:19] body camera footage [1:34:20] will be released. [1:34:21] I agree with you completely. [1:34:22] Everyone assumes [1:34:23] this body camera footage [1:34:25] is bad footage. [1:34:26] In so many cases, [1:34:28] it's the exact opposite, [1:34:30] and we get a show [1:34:31] from the officer's lens [1:34:32] what exactly [1:34:33] they're dealing with [1:34:34] on a daily basis, [1:34:35] not just a 15-second clip [1:34:37] we see on TikTok [1:34:38] or whatever it may be. [1:34:39] I'm very pleased to hear [1:34:40] the releasing [1:34:41] of more public footage. [1:34:42] My next question [1:34:43] is for you, [1:34:44] Commissioner Scott. [1:34:46] As a member of Congress, [1:34:48] I have a very similar... [1:34:49] All of us... [1:34:50] The question's really [1:34:51] for all of us. [1:34:52] As a member of Congress, [1:34:53] what can I do [1:34:54] to make sure [1:34:55] what happened in Minnesota [1:34:56] doesn't happen [1:34:57] in my community? [1:34:58] Put laws in place [1:34:59] that protect our officers [1:35:00] and agents [1:35:01] so they can go out [1:35:02] and stop confidently [1:35:03] and know they really, [1:35:04] truly have the backing. [1:35:05] And then, [1:35:06] I gotta plug it, [1:35:07] actually fund the programs. [1:35:09] So when body cameras [1:35:10] got rolled out to CBP, [1:35:11] the technical capability [1:35:12] of the camera got rolled out, [1:35:13] but the funding [1:35:14] for the personnel [1:35:15] to support the programs [1:35:16] and the data, [1:35:17] that can drain [1:35:19] basically all [1:35:20] your other operations. [1:35:21] So fund the entire program [1:35:23] so that we can be transparent [1:35:25] and that we can make sure [1:35:26] America knows [1:35:27] what we're doing [1:35:28] because that trust [1:35:29] is critically important. [1:35:31] Thank you for that. [1:35:32] The next question [1:35:33] is Director Edlow. [1:35:34] Too many times [1:35:35] we talk about [1:35:36] the enforcement side, [1:35:37] which I think is very important. [1:35:38] We see the millions [1:35:39] of criminal aliens [1:35:40] that are loose in our country. [1:35:41] We gotta go out there [1:35:42] and keep our community safe. [1:35:43] But we need to be talking more [1:35:44] about the legal aspect of it, [1:35:45] the people that are doing it [1:35:46] the right way. [1:35:47] I was very encouraged [1:35:48] to see 65,000 visas [1:35:50] get released [1:35:51] not too long ago. [1:35:52] The question I have is, [1:35:53] what are the detail, [1:35:54] what is the timeline behind that? [1:35:56] What is the purpose of those? [1:35:57] Can you specifically speak [1:35:59] to the legal visa process? [1:36:01] Well, you're referring [1:36:04] to the 65,000 [1:36:05] that were the supplemental H-2Bs. [1:36:07] Yes, that's exactly right. [1:36:08] There's 60,000 or 65,000, [1:36:11] 66,000, excuse me, [1:36:12] that go out every year [1:36:14] at two times in the year. [1:36:15] And then Congress has, [1:36:16] for many, many years, [1:36:18] given the department [1:36:19] the authority [1:36:20] through the secretary [1:36:21] to increase that [1:36:23] based on the needs [1:36:24] of the country. [1:36:25] So those visas were released. [1:36:28] I don't remember exactly [1:36:30] when the... [1:36:31] Gentlemen's time. [1:36:32] My time has expired. [1:36:33] I apologize. [1:36:34] And again, [1:36:35] any questions? [1:36:36] I know I'm being tight [1:36:37] on the rules. [1:36:38] We have to be. [1:36:39] There's a lot of questions. [1:36:40] We want to get through [1:36:41] everything today. [1:36:42] Any members will be able [1:36:43] to submit questions in writing [1:36:44] and you can detail these. [1:36:46] Thank you very much. [1:36:47] I now recognize [1:36:48] the gentleman [1:36:49] from Rhode Island, [1:36:50] Mr. Magaziner, [1:36:51] for five minutes of questions. [1:36:52] Mr. Lyons, [1:36:53] has ICE hired anyone [1:36:54] who was charged [1:36:55] with a crime related [1:36:56] to the January 6th riot [1:36:57] here at the Capitol? [1:36:58] Sir, I don't have [1:37:01] that information, [1:37:02] but I would say no. [1:37:03] Would you, [1:37:04] if you could find out [1:37:05] and please report back? [1:37:06] Yes, sir. [1:37:07] I'll get that. [1:37:08] Would you hire someone [1:37:09] who attacked police officers [1:37:10] here on January 6th [1:37:11] even though they were [1:37:12] unfortunately pardoned [1:37:13] by the president? [1:37:14] Sir, we take assault [1:37:15] on law enforcement [1:37:16] very serious [1:37:17] and we have a good [1:37:18] strenuous vetting program. [1:37:19] All right. [1:37:20] Thank you. [1:37:21] Commissioner Scott, [1:37:22] how many of your agents [1:37:23] have been disciplined [1:37:24] for excessive use of force [1:37:25] over the past year? [1:37:26] I cannot comment [1:37:27] on ongoing... [1:37:28] I'm not asking you [1:37:29] to comment on specific [1:37:30] investigation. [1:37:31] How many of your agents [1:37:32] have been disciplined? [1:37:33] I'm just asking [1:37:34] the total. [1:37:35] I'll get that number [1:37:36] to you. [1:37:37] I don't have it [1:37:38] in front of me. [1:37:39] All right. [1:37:40] I sent you a letter [1:37:41] asking that question [1:37:42] and haven't received [1:37:43] a response. [1:37:44] Will you commit [1:37:48] to sending a response [1:37:49] to me, please? [1:37:50] Yes, sir. [1:37:51] All right. [1:37:52] I'd like you [1:37:53] to view this video. [1:37:54] This is video [1:37:55] of what appears [1:37:56] to be pepper spray [1:37:57] thrown by a federal agent [1:37:58] into Rafael Varazza's car. [1:37:59] Are you okay, [1:38:00] mama? [1:38:01] Are you okay? [1:38:02] Seconds later, [1:38:03] he realized his daughter, [1:38:04] one-year-old Ariana, [1:38:05] was in the back seat, [1:38:07] also battling [1:38:08] with pepper spray. [1:38:09] The family of [1:38:10] United States citizens [1:38:11] who were out [1:38:12] to get groceries [1:38:13] at a Sam's Club [1:38:14] in Chicago, [1:38:15] when they arrived, [1:38:16] they could see [1:38:17] that there was [1:38:18] a chaotic operation [1:38:19] in the parking lot. [1:38:20] They turned [1:38:21] their vehicle [1:38:22] to leave, [1:38:23] at which point [1:38:24] your agents [1:38:25] sprayed pepper spray [1:38:26] out of their vehicle [1:38:27] and into the driver's [1:38:28] side window [1:38:29] of the Varazza's [1:38:30] family vehicle. [1:38:31] Is it proper procedure [1:38:32] to aim pepper spray [1:38:34] into the window [1:38:35] of a moving vehicle? [1:38:36] I'm not familiar. [1:38:37] I don't have [1:38:38] all the details on this. [1:38:39] Is it proper procedure? [1:38:40] We try to avoid that, [1:38:41] no. [1:38:42] We try to avoid it. [1:38:43] Because you understand [1:38:44] it's dangerous, [1:38:45] right? [1:38:46] Not just for the driver, [1:38:47] but for pedestrians, [1:38:48] for other people [1:38:49] who could be hit [1:38:50] by a car [1:38:51] if a driver is blinded, [1:38:52] right? [1:38:53] I 100% understand that, [1:38:54] but you're talking [1:38:55] about intentional [1:38:56] versus not intentional. [1:38:57] I've been in a vehicle [1:38:58] in one of these situations. [1:38:59] Reclaiming my time, [1:39:00] from the video, [1:39:01] this was clearly intentional. [1:39:02] And you know as well [1:39:03] as I do [1:39:04] that in any other [1:39:05] law enforcement agency, [1:39:06] if an officer did this, [1:39:07] they would be put on leave, [1:39:08] and likely disciplined. [1:39:10] Were any of your agents [1:39:11] ever investigated [1:39:12] or disciplined [1:39:13] for this incident? [1:39:14] I'll have to get back [1:39:15] to you on this incident. [1:39:16] I believe it's still [1:39:17] an ongoing investigation, [1:39:18] but we have at least [1:39:19] I'd like to show you [1:39:20] another video. [1:39:21] This one is from Minneapolis. [1:39:22] So as you can see, [1:39:36] the agent sprayed pepper spray [1:39:38] at close range [1:39:39] directly into the face [1:39:40] of an individual [1:39:41] who had already been [1:39:42] pinned to the ground [1:39:43] by three other agents. [1:39:44] And there's a picture [1:39:45] of this behind me [1:39:46] to give you a better view. [1:39:47] Is this proper procedure [1:39:49] for the use of pepper spray? [1:39:50] I cannot comment on that [1:39:52] because you're only [1:39:53] showing one piece [1:39:54] and that subject [1:39:55] is clearly not compliant. [1:39:56] Has this agent been investigated? [1:39:57] But this is not [1:39:58] the intended use [1:39:59] of this weapon, correct? [1:40:01] The intended use [1:40:02] is to try to avoid escalating. [1:40:04] It's to deescalate [1:40:05] the situation. [1:40:06] Well, he was already [1:40:07] pinned to the ground [1:40:08] by three other agents. [1:40:09] I think he had been deescalated. [1:40:10] Is there any investigation [1:40:12] into this agent [1:40:13] for doing this? [1:40:14] I'll get back to you. [1:40:15] There are several [1:40:16] open investigations. [1:40:17] All right. [1:40:18] Listen, there has been [1:40:19] no accountability [1:40:20] in your agency [1:40:21] or administration. [1:40:22] None. [1:40:23] Your agency has repeatedly [1:40:24] been caught on tape [1:40:25] using unnecessary violence [1:40:26] against civilians. [1:40:27] And you can't even tell me [1:40:28] if any of these agents [1:40:29] have been investigated [1:40:30] or disciplined. [1:40:31] You are supposed [1:40:32] to be making people safer [1:40:33] and instead, [1:40:34] your agents are being [1:40:35] unnecessarily violent. [1:40:37] And that is why [1:40:38] the Trump administration [1:40:39] has lost the trust [1:40:40] of the American people [1:40:41] on immigration. [1:40:42] Understand, [1:40:43] it's not just the actions [1:40:44] of the agents in the field. [1:40:45] It is the lack [1:40:46] of accountability [1:40:47] from the top [1:40:48] that has caused [1:40:49] public trust [1:40:50] to erupt. [1:40:51] And there need [1:40:52] to be major reforms [1:40:53] before we vote [1:40:54] to give any of you [1:40:55] any more funding. [1:40:56] Your agencies need [1:40:57] to act like other [1:40:58] law enforcement agencies, [1:40:59] take off the masks, [1:41:00] wear badge numbers, [1:41:01] enforce discipline [1:41:03] with real standards [1:41:04] of conduct. [1:41:05] But accountability [1:41:06] starts at the top. [1:41:07] Kristi Noem [1:41:09] is completely unfit [1:41:10] and should be removed [1:41:11] from office. [1:41:12] And all of the operations [1:41:13] that we just watched [1:41:14] were overseen [1:41:15] by Commander Gregory Bovino, [1:41:17] who himself engaged [1:41:18] in excessive use of force. [1:41:19] He even admitted [1:41:20] that he lied [1:41:21] to a federal judge [1:41:22] when he claimed [1:41:23] he had been hit [1:41:24] by a rock [1:41:25] prior to throwing [1:41:26] tear gas, [1:41:27] a tear gas canister [1:41:28] at a crowd of civilians. [1:41:29] But then after the footage [1:41:30] came out [1:41:31] and that turned out [1:41:32] to be not true, [1:41:33] he admitted [1:41:34] that he had lied about it. [1:41:35] Mr. Scott, [1:41:36] what disciplinary action [1:41:37] do you plan to take [1:41:38] against Mr. Bovino? [1:41:39] I cannot comment [1:41:40] on current, [1:41:41] I cannot comment [1:41:42] on personnel actions [1:41:43] on Indians. [1:41:44] Is there an investigation [1:41:45] underway [1:41:46] or being considered [1:41:47] into Mr. Bovino? [1:41:48] Every allegation [1:41:49] and every use of force [1:41:50] is fully investigated [1:41:51] him. [1:41:52] You need to [1:41:53] and start [1:41:54] enforcing discipline [1:41:55] in your agency. [1:41:56] Gentlemen's time [1:41:57] has expired. [1:41:58] I now recognize [1:41:59] the gentleman [1:42:00] from Alabama, [1:42:01] Mr. Strong, [1:42:02] for five minutes of questions. [1:42:03] Thank you, [1:42:04] Chairman Garbarino, [1:42:05] Ranking Member Thompson, [1:42:06] and thank you [1:42:07] to all our witnesses [1:42:08] for being here today. [1:42:09] Let me start [1:42:10] with the simple facts. [1:42:11] The border [1:42:12] is now closed. [1:42:13] Fentanyl poisonings [1:42:14] are down [1:42:15] by more than 35%. [1:42:16] I thank each of you [1:42:17] for your service [1:42:18] to our country. [1:42:19] I remember [1:42:20] in April of 23, [1:42:21] I testified [1:42:22] before this very committee [1:42:25] that the U.S. border [1:42:26] was, [1:42:27] and I quote, [1:42:28] secure, [1:42:29] close quote, [1:42:30] and not open. [1:42:33] At the same time, [1:42:34] under his leadership, [1:42:35] illegal alien population [1:42:37] surged [1:42:38] to over 11 million. [1:42:40] They were coming [1:42:42] from more than [1:42:43] 160 different countries [1:42:44] as migrants [1:42:45] were released [1:42:46] into our country [1:42:47] by the millions. [1:42:48] That's what [1:42:49] the Biden administration [1:42:50] has done [1:42:51] in concert [1:42:53] with Secretary Alejandro [1:42:54] Marcos [1:42:55] did to America. [1:42:56] They sold [1:42:57] America out. [1:42:58] The consequences [1:42:59] of their failures [1:43:00] were predictable. [1:43:01] When the United States [1:43:02] failed to enforce [1:43:03] its border, [1:43:04] the winners [1:43:05] are not [1:43:06] legal immigrants [1:43:07] or American communities. [1:43:08] It's the cartels, [1:43:09] drug smugglers, [1:43:10] human traffickers, [1:43:11] and violent criminals. [1:43:12] We didn't need [1:43:13] new laws [1:43:14] to stop [1:43:15] this crisis. [1:43:16] We needed [1:43:17] a president [1:43:18] who would [1:43:19] support [1:43:20] us. [1:43:21] We needed [1:43:22] a president [1:43:23] willing to enforce [1:43:24] the laws [1:43:25] already on the books. [1:43:26] President Trump [1:43:27] did exactly that. [1:43:28] Another promise [1:43:29] made, [1:43:30] another promise [1:43:31] kept. [1:43:32] And today, [1:43:33] the number [1:43:34] of illegal aliens [1:43:35] being released [1:43:36] into our country [1:43:37] is zero. [1:43:38] Zero. [1:43:39] That's what [1:43:40] it took [1:43:41] a president [1:43:42] to make [1:43:43] the hard decisions. [1:43:44] And America [1:43:45] is better [1:43:46] because of it. [1:43:47] So my question [1:43:48] is straightforward. [1:43:49] Did you [1:43:50] testify [1:43:51] before this [1:43:52] committee [1:43:53] that the border [1:43:54] was secure? [1:43:55] Consistent with [1:43:57] my prior testimony, [1:43:58] no, he was not. [1:43:59] As you stated earlier, [1:44:00] the underlying [1:44:01] immigration laws [1:44:02] haven't fundamentally [1:44:03] changed in decades. [1:44:04] What has [1:44:05] changed [1:44:06] is how [1:44:07] different [1:44:08] administrations [1:44:09] choose to enforce [1:44:10] these laws, [1:44:11] particularly [1:44:12] during the [1:44:13] previous administration. [1:44:14] It was [1:44:15] 100% [1:44:16] orchestrated [1:44:17] to allow [1:44:18] illegal aliens [1:44:19] to be released [1:44:20] into our country. [1:44:21] So, [1:44:22] from an operational [1:44:23] standpoint, [1:44:24] how important [1:44:25] is consistency [1:44:26] and enforcement [1:44:27] for deterrence [1:44:29] and border control? [1:44:30] It's extremely [1:44:31] important, [1:44:32] and we keep [1:44:33] talking about [1:44:34] immigration, [1:44:35] but let me [1:44:36] remind people, [1:44:37] border security [1:44:38] really is [1:44:39] national security. [1:44:40] The cartels [1:44:41] use illegal [1:44:42] immigration [1:44:43] to literally [1:44:44] overwhelm [1:44:45] law enforcement [1:44:46] at the border [1:44:47] and bring in [1:44:48] all kinds [1:44:49] of people [1:44:50] to the border. [1:44:51] They just [1:44:52] let you go. [1:44:53] It took away [1:44:54] the marketing [1:44:55] ability of [1:44:56] the cartels [1:44:57] to get people [1:44:58] to come to the border [1:44:59] and overwhelm [1:45:00] law enforcement. [1:45:01] This all works [1:45:02] together. [1:45:03] It's critically [1:45:04] important because [1:45:05] it is national [1:45:06] security. [1:45:07] Thank you, [1:45:08] Commissioner. [1:45:09] The men and [1:45:10] women of [1:45:11] DHS [1:45:12] deserve our [1:45:13] respect and [1:45:14] the ability [1:45:15] to do their [1:45:16] job effectively [1:45:17] without mixed [1:45:18] political rhetoric [1:45:19] that goes [1:45:20] beyond policy [1:45:21] disagreement [1:45:22] and targets [1:45:23] the legitimacy [1:45:24] of law enforcement [1:45:25] itself. [1:45:26] Rhetoric [1:45:27] that puts a [1:45:28] target on [1:45:29] the backs [1:45:30] of agents [1:45:31] doing their [1:45:32] jobs. [1:45:33] Acting Director [1:45:34] Lyons, [1:45:35] we keep [1:45:36] hearing calls [1:45:37] from left-wing [1:45:38] politicians [1:45:39] to abolish [1:45:40] ICE, [1:45:41] some including [1:45:42] many who [1:45:43] should know [1:45:44] better, [1:45:45] have denounced [1:45:46] federal law [1:45:47] enforcement [1:45:48] laws. [1:45:49] What are [1:45:50] the consequences [1:45:51] of not [1:45:52] enforcing [1:45:53] federal [1:45:55] immigration [1:45:56] laws? [1:45:57] If you [1:45:58] look at [1:45:59] what ICE [1:46:00] has done, [1:46:01] if you [1:46:02] look at [1:46:03] the amount [1:46:04] of known [1:46:05] and suspected [1:46:06] terrorists [1:46:07] we removed [1:46:08] from the [1:46:09] country, [1:46:10] we arrested [1:46:11] 1,477 [1:46:12] this year [1:46:13] and removed [1:46:14] 1,480. [1:46:15] Just that [1:46:16] impact alone [1:46:17] along with [1:46:18] a significant [1:46:19] impact on [1:46:20] public safety [1:46:21] and national [1:46:22] security. [1:46:23] Thank you. [1:46:24] Turning to you, [1:46:25] Director [1:46:26] Edelow, [1:46:27] the U.S. [1:46:28] Citizenship [1:46:29] and Immigration [1:46:30] Service plays [1:46:31] a role in [1:46:32] administering [1:46:33] legal immigration [1:46:34] and protecting [1:46:35] the integrity [1:46:36] of the system. [1:46:37] When immigration [1:46:38] enforcement [1:46:39] is undermined [1:46:40] or treated [1:46:41] as illegitimate, [1:46:42] how does that [1:46:43] affect USCIS's [1:46:44] ability to [1:46:45] manage lawful [1:46:46] pathways, [1:46:47] which makes it [1:46:48] absolutely impossible, [1:46:49] Congressman? [1:46:50] And that's why [1:46:51] we've done [1:46:52] everything we can [1:46:53] to administer [1:46:54] that system [1:46:55] now and to [1:46:56] not cut [1:46:57] corners that [1:46:58] were previously [1:46:59] cut during [1:47:00] the last [1:47:01] administration. [1:47:02] Thank you, [1:47:03] Mr. Chairman. [1:47:04] I yield [1:47:05] back. [1:47:06] The gentleman [1:47:07] yields back. [1:47:08] I now recognize [1:47:09] a gentleman [1:47:10] from New York, [1:47:11] Mr. Goldman. [1:47:12] Five minutes [1:47:15] of questions. [1:47:16] Thank you, [1:47:17] Mr. Chairman. [1:47:18] I'm a former [1:47:19] U.S. [1:47:20] Special Agent. [1:47:21] We conduct [1:47:22] targeted intelligence [1:47:23] driven operations. [1:47:24] We don't walk [1:47:25] around on the [1:47:26] streets asking [1:47:27] people about [1:47:28] their American [1:47:29] citizenship. [1:47:30] Really? [1:47:31] So all of those [1:47:32] individual American [1:47:33] citizens who [1:47:34] have been [1:47:35] randomly asked [1:47:36] are lying? [1:47:37] Is that what [1:47:38] you're saying? [1:47:39] Sir, if the [1:47:40] men and women [1:47:41] of ICE are [1:47:42] conducting an [1:47:43] investigation, [1:47:44] whether it be [1:47:45] for Title [1:47:46] 8 immigration [1:47:47] law enforcement. [1:47:48] Now, have you [1:47:49] directed at any [1:47:50] point your [1:47:51] agents under [1:47:52] the Supreme [1:47:53] Court's [1:47:54] racial profiling [1:47:55] ruling to [1:47:56] only stop [1:47:57] non-white [1:47:58] people and [1:47:59] those who [1:48:00] look like [1:48:01] immigrants to [1:48:02] ask for their [1:48:03] citizenship [1:48:04] papers? [1:48:06] No, sir, I [1:48:07] haven't. [1:48:08] Now, you are [1:48:09] aware, of [1:48:10] course, and [1:48:11] there's [1:48:12] well-documented, [1:48:13] numerous [1:48:14] well-documented [1:48:15] instances of [1:48:16] people, American [1:48:17] citizens being [1:48:18] forced to [1:48:19] prove their [1:48:20] citizenship. [1:48:21] Do you know [1:48:22] what other [1:48:23] regimes in the [1:48:24] 20th century [1:48:25] required similar [1:48:26] proof of [1:48:29] citizenship? [1:48:31] Yes, sir. [1:48:32] What? [1:48:33] Sir, there's [1:48:34] various nefarious [1:48:35] regimes that [1:48:36] did that. [1:48:37] Is Nazi Germany [1:48:38] one? [1:48:39] Yes. [1:48:40] Is the [1:48:41] Soviet Union [1:48:42] one? [1:48:43] Sir, I'm [1:48:44] asking the [1:48:45] questions. [1:48:47] Is the [1:48:48] Soviet Union [1:48:49] one? [1:48:50] Yes, sir, but [1:48:51] the Holocaust Museum [1:48:52] is not at 14 [1:48:53] in Independence. [1:48:54] If you want to [1:48:55] go see Nazis, [1:48:56] that's what it is. [1:48:57] It's not the [1:48:58] men and [1:48:59] women of [1:49:00] ICE that are [1:49:01] out there doing [1:49:02] it every day. [1:49:03] So to say [1:49:04] that the [1:49:05] men and [1:49:06] women of [1:49:07] ICE are [1:49:08] Gestapos... [1:49:09] Mr. Chairman, [1:49:10] I'm reclaiming [1:49:12] my time. [1:49:13] I would [1:49:14] like my [1:49:15] time back, [1:49:16] please. [1:49:17] Please give [1:49:18] me another [1:49:19] 15 seconds [1:49:20] because he [1:49:21] has been [1:49:22] there for [1:49:23] a long [1:49:24] time. [1:49:25] Do you [1:49:26] think that [1:49:27] the [1:49:28] Soviet Union [1:49:29] is not [1:49:30] one? [1:49:31] I would [1:49:32] like to [1:49:33] answer [1:49:34] that question [1:49:35] in [1:49:36] a [1:49:37] general [1:49:38] way. [1:49:39] I don't [1:49:40] think that [1:49:41] the [1:49:42] Soviet Union [1:49:43] is one, [1:49:44] but [1:49:45] I think [1:49:46] that [1:49:47] they [1:49:48] are [1:49:49] the [1:49:50] That's why people are making those comments. [1:49:54] Now, I was a prosecutor for 10 years, [1:49:57] prosecuted mob bosses, organized crime, violent criminals, [1:50:01] the actual worst of the worst. [1:50:04] Not a single criminal law enforcement agent [1:50:07] that I worked with wore a mask to conceal their identity. [1:50:12] But your department, [1:50:14] which is a civil law enforcement agency, [1:50:16] is defending the use of masks by your agents [1:50:19] because of a so-called rise in threats and assaults [1:50:22] against your officer. [1:50:24] Now, you said in your opening testimony [1:50:26] that assaults against ICE officers are up [1:50:29] by more than 1400%, [1:50:31] which is now even more than the 1300% [1:50:34] that your gaslighting spokesperson, [1:50:36] Tricia from Ohio, has recently been citing. [1:50:40] But here's the problem. [1:50:41] There are two separate, very detailed, [1:50:44] very thorough investigative reports [1:50:46] based on your own data that both conclude [1:50:51] that assaults against ICE officers [1:50:53] are up about [1:50:54] 25%, which is far less, of course, [1:50:58] than you assert and far less than you would expect [1:51:01] from an agency that has more than doubled its hiring [1:51:06] and has an even greater increase in arrests. [1:51:11] Now, why is that a problem, Mr. Lyons? [1:51:15] It's a problem because the explanation [1:51:20] that your agents are wearing masks [1:51:23] because of fear of assaults or doxing, [1:51:26] is outright bogus. [1:51:29] You and your untrained, unqualified, [1:51:32] unvetted, unidentified agents [1:51:35] are intentionally terrorizing our cities [1:51:37] and communities all over this country [1:51:40] to avoid accountability for their excessive force [1:51:45] and their lawless actions. [1:51:47] That is why you're wearing masks, [1:51:50] so no one can hold you accountable. [1:51:53] And you know that the FBI is not going to, [1:51:56] because notwithstanding all of the information, [1:51:58] all of the investigations all of you say are going on, [1:52:01] the Department of Justice and the FBI has stated [1:52:04] they are not investigating those two murders. [1:52:08] This is not the America that I know and love. [1:52:11] This is not the America my immigrants came to. [1:52:14] And it's long past time that you rein in [1:52:16] your out-of-control agency and start following the law [1:52:20] and the Constitution, and I yield back. [1:52:22] Gentleman's time has expired. [1:52:25] I now recognize a gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Crane, [1:52:27] for five minutes of questions. [1:52:29] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [1:52:31] It's interesting being in this hearing today, [1:52:34] where my Democrat colleagues continue to demonize ICE [1:52:37] and Homeland Security. [1:52:38] I think history and context are very important here. [1:52:42] It's not lost on most of the American public [1:52:45] that my Democrat colleagues actually caused [1:52:47] this entire crisis with their open border policies [1:52:50] that they all voted for, [1:52:52] letting in close to 15 million illegal aliens. [1:52:56] I also want to go through [1:52:57] real quick some numbers of ICE deportations [1:53:01] with other presidents who I believe both you, Mr. Scott, [1:53:05] and you, Mr. Lyons, have worked for. [1:53:07] Under President Clinton, 12 million illegal aliens [1:53:11] were deported and removed from this country, [1:53:13] some voluntary, some departures. [1:53:15] Key, no riots. [1:53:17] Under President Bush, two million, no riots. [1:53:21] Obama, who is often referred to as the deporter-in-chief, [1:53:24] five million, including returns, no riots. [1:53:27] President Trump in his first term, [1:53:30] two million deported, no riots. [1:53:33] President Biden, four million, including expulsions, [1:53:36] varying by estimates, no riots. [1:53:39] President Trump again this year, 625,000, [1:53:43] with two million voluntary leaving through CBP Home App. [1:53:48] Mr. Scott, can you explain why these other presidents [1:53:51] that you work for, both Democrat and Republican, [1:53:54] have deported far more people than this president, [1:53:57] and we've seen no riots? [1:53:59] I see the [1:54:19] united states as a republic of its own. [1:54:24] We are a republic of its own. [1:54:26] We are going to make our own decisions. [1:54:28] We're not going to do this. [1:54:29] Let's do this. [1:54:29] Let's do this. [1:54:29] 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? [1:54:40] Mr. Lyons, I'll start with you. [1:54:42] Yes, sir, it would be. You wouldn't see the amount of law enforcement officers involved in immigration operations. [1:54:46] Right. How about you, Mr. Scott? [1:54:48] I 100% agree with the director. And more, 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. [1:54:55] Let's also talk about these riots. Mr. Scott, Mr. Lyons, do you guys remember any riots, you know, when for some of these victims that were assaulted and victimized by illegal alien criminals like Nate Baker, Lake and Riley, Fletcher Harris, Skyler Provenza, Ivory Smith? [1:55:16] I've got a whole list of them. Do you remember any riots from our Democrats or their constituents when any of these American citizens were victimized by aliens? [1:55:26] No, sir. No, sir. [1:55:30] Why do you think that is? Because that's the question that I get asked all the time. [1:55:34] Congressman, why do the Democrats care more about illegal alien criminals than they care about these American citizens? [1:55:41] Many of them who are young, have their entire lives ahead of them, didn't show up to a protest, right, to obstruct federal law enforcement. [1:55:50] They're just going about their daily lives and they get victimized by people who aren't supposed to be here. [1:55:55] Why do you think they don't care about it? [1:55:57] Why do you think they don't care about American citizens? [1:55:58] I cannot speculate, but when I look at the chaos that it creates and the corrosive nature that it creates, I go beyond the politics of the United States and I look at our nation state adversaries like Iran, Russia and China and their influence on social media to keep this negative discourse going. [1:56:17] And I think this is a much bigger issue than we're actually admitting that it is in here. [1:56:21] I want to tie this together to something that's very pertinent that's going to happen this week here in Congress, [1:56:27] where the American people are going to be the ones who are going to be the ones who are going to be the ones who are going to be the ones who are going to be the ones who are going to be the ones who are going to be the ones who are going to be the [1:56:28] are going to see the bookend of what's going on. [1:56:32] We are going to attempt to pass the Save America Act, okay? [1:56:38] Which requires documentary proof of US citizenship [1:56:42] to register to vote. [1:56:43] It imposes photo ID requirements to vote [1:56:46] and it penalizes officials [1:56:48] who do not enforce these requirements. [1:56:50] And you won't see most of these folks over here [1:56:54] on the other side that are demonizing you guys right now, [1:56:56] you will not see them support it. [1:56:58] So they let millions and millions of illegal aliens [1:57:01] into the country. [1:57:03] They set up these sanctuary cities [1:57:04] so you can't go enforce these federal laws [1:57:06] that are on the books that Congress has passed. [1:57:09] And now they won't vote to stop these illegals [1:57:12] from voting in our elections. [1:57:14] If the American people don't understand [1:57:17] what this whole thing is about, [1:57:19] it's about one word and it always has been, [1:57:22] and that is power. [1:57:24] They want power and they need these illegals [1:57:27] to vote in our elections. [1:57:28] That's why they don't care about the fraud either [1:57:30] because they need those votes as well. [1:57:32] Thank you, I yield back. [1:57:33] Gentleman yields back. [1:57:35] I now recognize the gentlelady from Illinois, [1:57:37] Ms. Ramirez, for five minutes of questions. [1:57:40] Thank you, Chairman. [1:57:42] My mother, a Guatemalan immigrant and an American, [1:57:45] taught me that I have the responsibility [1:57:47] to look evil in the eye and to fight it back. [1:57:53] Mr. Lyon, Mr. Scott, Mr. Edlow, [1:57:57] you have used your power to perpetrate great evil [1:58:00] and it's about time [1:58:01] you answered this committee for the lawlessness [1:58:03] that you've empowered and defended in your testimony. [1:58:07] Mr. Lyons, I want to start with you. [1:58:10] And I want to talk about ICE [1:58:11] because under your leadership, [1:58:12] ICE has shot and killed [1:58:14] Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez and Renee Goode, [1:58:18] violated nearly 100 court orders in January alone, [1:58:23] you've used banned chokeholds in more than 40 cases, [1:58:26] engaged in warrantless arrest despite of a consent decree, [1:58:30] and you used children as bait to put 3,000, [1:58:33] 800 children in detention. [1:58:36] You created traps for people at immigration court [1:58:38] who were following the law and doing it the legal way. [1:58:41] And you broke the law by entering into people's homes [1:58:44] without a judicial warrant [1:58:45] in violation of the Fourth Amendment. [1:58:48] Now, let's talk about you, Mr. Scott, and CBP next. [1:58:52] Under your leadership, CBP has attempted to execute [1:58:57] Marimar Martinez, shooting her five times [1:59:01] and not releasing the footage that you should release, [1:59:05] so that we can see the evidence, [1:59:07] murdered Alex Preddy, used chemical agents [1:59:10] dozens of times in Chicago after a judge ordered you to stop, [1:59:16] conducted warrantless surveillance [1:59:18] and racial profiling, and acted with total disrespect [1:59:21] and disregard for the law while engaging in roving patrols, [1:59:25] plate switching, dangerous traffic maneuvers, [1:59:28] and observer intimidation. [1:59:30] Again, criminals act with that total disregard for the law, [1:59:34] and we continue to see it. [1:59:35] Thank you. [1:59:35] Thank you. [1:59:36] You would both have us talk about respect for your mission and your agents. [1:59:40] But your agencies are unaccountable, paramilitary forces, [1:59:44] and I have just as much respect for you as I do for the last white men [1:59:48] who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. [1:59:51] I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klan hood and the slave patrol. [1:59:56] Those activities were immoral then and criminal, and so are yours. [2:00:02] And that brings me to you, Mr. Edlow and USCIS. [2:00:06] Truly, USCIS is the most disappointing part of this whole panel for me. [2:00:13] Mr. Edlow, let me ask you a question. [2:00:15] Is USCIS's mission to uphold America's promise as a nation of welcome and possibility [2:00:22] with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve, yes or no? [2:00:27] Is that the mission? [2:00:29] Congresswoman, the mission is to administer the lawful immigration system. [2:00:33] Let me move on. [2:00:34] So it is not for the possibility of fairness, integrity, and respect. [2:00:37] I get that. [2:00:38] I want to tell you about Stephen, my constituent, Mr. Edlow. [2:00:42] Stephen is a 14-year-old with autism who is seeking asylum. [2:00:46] This child has spent 60 days in detention center after he was detained with his dad at a check-in. [2:00:54] Let me ask you this. [2:00:55] What kind of agency would strip asylum protections from children, [2:01:00] even those with pending asylum claims, and deport minors without due process? [2:01:05] You don't have to answer that. [2:01:06] It's your agency, Mr. Edlow. [2:01:09] You are doing that to Stephen, my constituent, an eighth grader. [2:01:12] You have abandoned the mission and allowed USCIS to become a tool in DHS's abusive enforcement apparatus, Mr. Edlow. [2:01:21] It is shameful to see what USCIS has become. [2:01:25] As I've said before, DHS, ICE, and CBP, they're not really rogue. [2:01:33] Congress designed DHS to violate our rights under the pretense of securing our safety. [2:01:39] I'm going to say it loud and clear, and I'm proud to stand by what I say. [2:01:44] DHS cannot be reformed. [2:01:46] It must be dismantled and something new must take its place. [2:01:51] Because if we let DHS persist, it will continue to be a weapon that can be pointed [2:01:55] at anyone the government considers the public enemy. [2:01:59] And let me tell you, fascism always requires a public enemy. [2:02:03] But the power of the people is stronger than the weapons they would wield against us. [2:02:07] So Mr. Lyons, Mr. Scott, Mr. Edlow, you have weaponized the government. [2:02:14] You have supported a fascist enterprise at the expense of our constitutional rights. [2:02:19] You have violated the law. [2:02:21] But let me remind you, you will not always be in power. [2:02:25] One day you will be held accountable for your role in this dark moment in America and our [2:02:30] nation's history. [2:02:31] I guarantee it. [2:02:32] And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. [2:02:35] The gentlelady yields back. [2:02:37] As I said, the issues we're debating today are very important. [2:02:39] I think we have a lot of time. [2:02:40] But the issues we're debating here are important ones that members feel deeply about. [2:02:42] While vigorous disagreement is part of the legislative process, members are reminded [2:02:47] that we must adhere to established standards of decorum and debate. [2:02:51] Witnesses are here today voluntarily. [2:02:52] And I will continue to remind members that while oversight is important, aggressively [2:02:56] attacking witnesses personally is inappropriate and not in keeping with the best traditions [2:03:01] of our committee. [2:03:02] And I now recognize the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Burkine, for five minutes of questions. [2:03:08] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:03:10] Thank you to the witnesses. [2:03:10] I want to start with a display over my shoulders. [2:03:15] And this is something that is not specific only to Oklahoma. [2:03:19] This is something that every member of this committee, if you will go to the DHS website, [2:03:24] every constituent of every member of Congress, if you're curious of really the dark days, [2:03:31] I want you to go to the DHS website, and I want you to look at those not far from where [2:03:36] you live, moms and dads. [2:03:38] The arrest of illegal aliens who were preying on moms and dads. [2:03:41] Preying on minors. [2:03:43] Just because of a really intentional act by Kate Bryan on my staff to go a couple of weeks [2:03:48] ago and look just in eastern Oklahoma, on the right side of me here. [2:03:52] Just in eastern Oklahoma. [2:03:53] I represent almost all the entirety of eastern Oklahoma. [2:03:57] These are just the individuals, heinous acts to include those with children. [2:04:02] And yet I want to read you in a wider, to my left over here, what is happening in the [2:04:08] state of Oklahoma. [2:04:10] This person was picked up, Angel Nix, sexual exploitation of a minor. [2:04:14] Brenton Andrew, molestation of a minor. [2:04:18] Chan Truding, child fondling. [2:04:21] Filiasano Garcia, enticement of a minor. [2:04:25] Caetano Lopez, statutory rape. [2:04:28] Rosmo Avila, rape and lewd acts with a minor. [2:04:32] So for everyone who is in short-term memory, it's the way things operate in the court of [2:04:38] public opinion. [2:04:40] Everyone is looking and you're forgetting the conversations you were having two and [2:04:44] three years ago. [2:04:45] If you had teenage kiddos wanting to go out. [2:04:47] Outside of your home. [2:04:49] And you knew that they were going to go to Dallas, Texas. [2:04:52] Or some city. [2:04:53] And you knew that you had to have a conversation with them with what was happening. [2:04:56] The 15 million you knew were in the country illegally that you had no idea what they would [2:05:01] be doing. [2:05:02] Who would they be preying upon. [2:05:03] And moms and dads, don't you feel just a little bit safer? [2:05:07] If we're going to be gut level honest? [2:05:09] That's the realization of what the generational opportunity this administration has afforded [2:05:14] this country. [2:05:15] It's the ability to feel safe. [2:05:16] It's the ability to feel safe. [2:05:17] It's the ability to feel safe. [2:05:19] Over the madness of opening the border for that four-year period that allowed 15 million [2:05:23] people you don't know where they came from. [2:05:25] You don't know their background. [2:05:26] You don't know their history. [2:05:28] And this that is occurring right now is designed to make sure we have law and order in this [2:05:35] country. [2:05:36] If you do not have law and order, you don't have prosperity. [2:05:40] So to all those who are second-guessing the reactionary moments to the law enforcement [2:05:46] who have to respond in real time. [2:05:49] The quarterback who is questioned Monday morning because he's facing the 300-pound defensive [2:05:57] lineman. [2:05:58] It's easy to do that. [2:05:59] But law enforcement walks out of their home every day and is faced with life or death [2:06:03] questions. [2:06:05] And we have to understand they are the ones who are affording us the opportunity for our [2:06:09] children to feel safe against these that are in your backyard. [2:06:13] It's not just in the north. [2:06:15] It's not just in Minneapolis. [2:06:17] It's not just in Minnesota. [2:06:18] They're in every state in the country. [2:06:20] Go to the Department of Homeland Security. [2:06:21] Go to the Department of Homeland Security website and Google your area and look at who's [2:06:25] being picked up in your backyard. [2:06:27] That's how we recenter this conversation to truth. [2:06:32] I want your children protected. [2:06:34] I am grateful for this president who wants your children protected and an administration. [2:06:42] The same playbook is happening now to create chaos and take your eye off the real goal [2:06:49] which is to secure our communities, to get back to a place of safety. [2:06:52] Mr. Lyons, can you describe? [2:06:53] Mr. Lyons, can you describe? [2:06:54] So, because of not allowing these people to stay in jail, these sanctuary cities are [2:06:58] letting them go. [2:07:00] Thousands released from jail because they will not cooperate with ICE. [2:07:03] And when ICE tries to execute a detainer, asks them to hold a criminal illegal alien [2:07:07] for potential deportation, how is this compared with other non-sanctuary city regions in the [2:07:13] country? [2:07:15] Mr. It's night and day. [2:07:16] With the jurisdictions that we do have cooperation, we're able to take that individual on a safe [2:07:20] secure environment not only for the officers and agents but it's also for the individual [2:07:25] community because we only need one to two officers to make that arrest where now we're historically [2:07:30] five or six we need up to 15. um from what you've seen in terms of protests in minnesota and [2:07:36] elsewhere do you get the sense these agitators are trying to provoke your agents into reactions [2:07:41] yes sir can you expound upon that we've seen multiple times and unfortunately we saw like [2:07:46] the shooting in dallas where agitated groups use apps to identify the location of ice officers [2:07:52] sometimes prior to even the law enforcement action begins and sometimes using those apps [2:07:57] put the officers and as well as other federal agencies and local agencies with them in danger [2:08:02] because it exposes the fact where a law enforcement operation is happening mr scott can [2:08:06] you describe how the 300 000 children the uac's unaccompanied minors that we're trying to find [2:08:10] them how these protests are stopping us from being able to recover those gentlemen respond in writing [2:08:15] to that question um i now recognize the gentleman from new york mr kennedy for five minutes thank [2:08:22] you mr line [2:08:23] written testimony today does not make one single mention of renee nicole goode or alex preddy not [2:08:30] one two american citizens have been murdered at the hands of your agency and you have deliberately [2:08:37] chosen under oath before congress to ignore these tragedies and so today in my five minutes i look [2:08:43] forward to getting the american people some answers and some accountability that i believe [2:08:49] they deserve mr lyons i have some simple yes or no questions do you believe the u.s constitution [2:08:56] provides due process [2:08:57] process for everyone in this country yes do you believe american citizens have the right to [2:09:04] protest freely without being assaulted or killed by our government yes do you believe there should [2:09:11] be an independent investigation when an innocent person is killed by a law enforcement agency in [2:09:17] this country yes do you believe your agency has a legal obligation to follow court orders yes well [2:09:26] mr lyons you have a very strange way of showing it with a federal judge finding that your agency [2:09:32] is in violation of 96 orders in one month alone and that's just minneapolis minnesota [2:09:42] this administration and the agencies represented before us have shown a complete and utter [2:09:46] disregard for the law and the constitution renee nicole goode and alex preddy both american citizens [2:09:54] both dead at the hands of federal agents alex preddy was a va icu nurse who dedicated his life [2:10:02] to healing people healing veterans i worked as an occupational therapist for [2:10:08] over a decade in that video that we've all seen it was alex preddy who was doing what health care [2:10:18] workers do what nurses do they help people help people who are hurting help people who are in [2:10:24] trouble in this case helping a fellow peaceful protester who was shoved to the ground right [2:10:35] before your agents shot him 10 times and we're now learning that fbi director kash patel stopped [2:10:43] the u.s attorney's office in minnesota from investigating [2:10:46] the death of ms goode because of fear that an investigation would contradict [2:10:50] president trump's falsehoods that she violently willfully and viciously ran down an agent six [2:10:57] federal prosecutors resigned rather than participate in a cover-up christy noem stephen [2:11:04] miller and you mr lyons have appointed yourselves judge jury and executioner allowing american [2:11:11] citizens to be gunned down in our streets with impunity we all know the president is a liar [2:11:19] he sold snake oil his entire life but he can't tell us and the american people that we did not [2:11:25] see with our own eyes what we saw in that video two americans shot dead in cold blood the american [2:11:34] people aren't stupid like he thinks we are the fact that our government murders american citizens [2:11:41] lies about it and then refuses to investigate or seek justice is beyond abhorrent it's un-american [2:11:52] we shouldn't have masked government agents executing citizens in the streets the constitution [2:11:59] does not give your agency the right to hide their faces while they kill americans will you commit [2:12:06] yes or no to immediately unmasking every agent conducting immigration enforcement and requiring [2:12:12] them to wear standard uniforms with identifiable badges no well that's a sad response your answer [2:12:20] is completely unacceptable people who are proud of what they do [2:12:25] aren't hiding their identity we're a nation of laws and you your boss secretary noem and donald [2:12:34] trump are not above the law the american people are angry and they're demanding accountability [2:12:40] and justice from those giving the orders mr lines yes or no do you believe that secretary [2:12:46] noem should resign i'm not going to comment on that sir so you're going to look the families [2:12:53] of renee nicole goode and alex pretty in the eye and tell them secretary noem should keep [2:12:58] her job after their loved ones were killed sir the loss of any life [2:13:04] is unacceptable in the heart my heart prayers and thoughts go out to anyone who [2:13:09] tragically losing his life especially a child since i've suffered personal loss in my life [2:13:15] but i'm not going to comment on ongoing investigation well mr lyons the american [2:13:19] people are watching your unwillingness to demand accountability from your own leadership [2:13:23] speaks volumes two american citizens gentleman's time is expired the american people deserve [2:13:28] time is expired it is a members are reminded that we must adhere to established standards of decorum [2:13:35] it is a clear violation of the rules of the house to make statements that might be personally [2:13:39] offensive to the president or the vice president of the united states i now recognize a gentle lady [2:13:44] from south carolina miss biggs for five minutes of questions thank you chairman garbarino and thank [2:13:50] you to our witnesses um a big thank you for what you do each and every day to secure our border [2:13:57] and to carry out the will of the american people you know this trump administration and the cbp and [2:14:04] ice they've done a lot of work to secure our border and to carry out the will of the american people you know this trump administration and the cbp and ice they've done a [2:14:05] stellar job of securing our border and we can just look at the numbers they tell the facts [2:14:12] crossings are down from a high of over 300 000 a month under president biden to around 10 000 a [2:14:20] month under president trump however the lax border policies of the democrats have flooded our country [2:14:28] with tens of millions of illegal immigrants this invasion was facilitated by sanctuary city [2:14:36] cities most cities will hand over criminal alien aliens with a deportation order to ice [2:14:44] but sanctuary cities refuse to do so often releasing them back into the public around [2:14:51] our communities our children and making it unsafe cities like minneapolis pick and choose which laws [2:14:59] they want to enforce and by doing that they place our federal law enforcement in danger forcing ice [2:15:06] to make arrests out in public something that could be avoided if sanctuary cities simply cooperated [2:15:13] with the federal law at the same time radical leftists have stirred hysteria over routine [2:15:20] immigration enforcement calling immigration officers the secret police and even the gustavo [2:15:27] let me be very clear this rhetoric has consequences between 2024 and 2025 we saw [2:15:36] a more than 16 000 percent increase in threats of assault against immigration officers and over [2:15:45] 8 000 percent spike in death threats targeting those who enforce our laws in minnesota alone [2:15:54] there have been over 60 threats and 20 assaults to ice officers just think about that if you were [2:16:00] going to work every day and had to deal with that sanctuary cities they choose criminals over [2:16:09] my bill the mobilizing against sanctuary cities act would cut off every single federal dollar to [2:16:17] any city that helps illegals instead of law enforcement mr lyons my question is to you [2:16:25] why should taxpayers fund far-left politicians who put your agents at risk ma'am unfortunately [2:16:35] what we've seen over and over is just the fact that there's so much rhetoric out there against [2:16:39] the work the men and women of ice have done [2:16:41] again going back in my career this is my second decade multiple administrations and it's never [2:16:47] been like this and the actual public safety impact that the men and white men and women [2:16:52] of ice do every day is significant and it should still be true for all 50 states thank you so i [2:16:59] want to take it a little closer to home what's happening in my district the third district of [2:17:04] south carolina it should alarm every single individual these are real crimes committed by [2:17:12] the street workers for not being able to takeetr to a real delicacy these negrocan deixa drivers [2:17:18] and the für60s is an incredible struggle across the country and i think we are going to see [2:17:24] and our towns and even hier memorials of them legally in our country right here in our [2:17:29] communities confirmed by the department of homeland security we heard a little bit from [2:17:34] my colleagues earlier so let me just give you a few of the worst vehicular homicide child cruelty [2:17:41] burglary, forgery, repeated illegal reentry, and more and more. And this is [2:17:46] what I consider chaos. And it's the direct result of open border policies [2:17:52] that put American lives at risk. But amid all of this, we're seeing true heroes [2:17:58] step up. Our federal immigration officers are on the front lines of securing [2:18:03] safety and prosperity for us and for our children. They've been given a difficult [2:18:08] task, but they are up to the job and certainly meeting the [2:18:13] demands. We stand behind our immigration officers and their historic mission to [2:18:18] restore the rule of law to the United States. And right here at home, our local [2:18:25] law enforcement is rising to meet the challenge, and I'm very grateful to them. [2:18:29] So just look at Anderson County Sheriff's Department, which you will see [2:18:34] in the photo behind me, which recently seized one hundred and eighty pounds [2:18:38] of cocaine. That's one hundred and eighty pounds of deadly drugs that will never [2:18:44] reach our streets, thanks to the courage and commitment. So I just want to say [2:18:49] thank you, and I'm grateful for the job that you do. [2:18:52] General Lady yields back. I now recognize the General Lady from New Jersey, Ms. [2:18:58] McGyver, for five minutes of questions. [2:19:00] Thank you, Mr. Chairman and ranking member. Mr. Lyons, as the senior official lead in ICE [2:19:06] enforcement, much of today's scrutiny falls on you. [2:19:09] Thank you. [2:19:10] And it should. You have seen repeatedly, we have seen repeatedly that Republicans, [2:19:15] Trump administration, its DHS and your agency will do absolutely anything to avoid [2:19:21] answering for your actions. When I showed up to inspect Delaney Hall, a private prison [2:19:26] that you contract with, ICE tried not to give us an oversight tour. [2:19:32] Then, instead of taking accountability for ICE's attempts to keep us from seeing this [2:19:37] facility's conditions, to know if [2:19:39] people's basic rights were being upheld, this administration is doing all they can [2:19:44] to try to put me in prison for 17 years. When ICE shot and killed Renee Good, Kristi Noem [2:19:50] called her a domestic terrorist. When Alex Pretty, you all tried to tell us he was threatening [2:19:56] officers with a gun, but all we saw was a phone. This administration's clear lies fell [2:20:02] apart, not because someone had a come-to-Jesus moment, but because we saw these murders from [2:20:07] every angle. [2:20:08] Thank you. [2:20:09] You are only here because public outrage has become so unavoidable. You are here, Mr. Lyons, [2:20:15] because white people are getting shot in the face and chest when the cameras are rolling. [2:20:22] Because now, my Republican colleagues care about optics. But when Keith Porter, Jr., [2:20:28] a black American citizen, a son, a father, and a man loved by many was killed by an off-duty [2:20:34] ICE agent on New Year's Eve, there were no hearings. So this is for him today. [2:20:39] In my district, Jean Wilson Brutus, a Haitian immigrant, a beloved family man, died within [2:20:46] 24 hours of being in ICE custody. He is just one of more than 30 people who have died in [2:20:53] ICE custody last year. This is for all of them. Every human being your rogue, out-of-control [2:21:00] agency has hurt, hunted down, imprisoned, killed, and continued to hold hostage even after they [2:21:08] have agreed to be deported. [2:21:09] Thank you. [2:21:10] You are the rightful guardian of the free will of the people. And I am proud of this [2:21:15] hearted, unyielding, and compassionate administration. Sit down and sit down. [2:21:20] We know this administration doesn't care about protecting people or sparing lives. We all [2:21:25] see so plainly what you are doing. What you have been doing to black and brown folks, [2:21:31] immigrants? People silenced in the shadows, now in broad daylight to people peacefully [2:21:36] rejecting your cruel agenda in the streets. [2:21:39] lethal force on our neighborhoods and seems to believe that they are above the law and should [2:21:44] be without accountability. This administration believes it can act first, explain later, or hell, [2:21:51] never explain at all, as we see here today. You all seem to think you are the highest power who [2:21:57] decides which people deserve dignity, protection, due process, and due process, but you are wrong. [2:22:05] We are here for answers. We are here for accountability, and we are here because [2:22:10] people are dying. Let me repeat that. People are dying, and you don't seem to care. So, [2:22:18] Mr. Lyons, I've heard my colleagues ask many questions over and over again, and you cannot [2:22:23] answer them, so let me ask you some questions that you may be able to answer. Mr. Lyons, [2:22:29] do you consider yourself a religious man? Yes, ma'am. Oh, yes. Okay, well, how do you think [2:22:34] Judgment Day will work for you? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't [2:22:36] know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't [2:22:36] know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't [2:22:36] know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't [2:22:36] know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't [2:22:36] know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't [2:22:36] know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't [2:22:36] with so much blood on your hands i'm not going to entertain that question oh okay of course not [2:22:42] do you think you're going to hell mr lyons i'm not going to end of course how many government [2:22:47] gentle lady will suspend the gentle lady will suspend chairman as i a gentle lady will suspend [2:22:52] as i said the issues we're debating here are important to ones that members feel deeply about [2:22:57] thank you while vigorous disagreement is part of the legislative process members are reminded that [2:23:02] we must adhere to established standards of the corpsman debate the witnesses are here voluntarily [2:23:07] and i will continue to remind continue to remind members that while oversight is important [2:23:11] aggressively attacking those witnesses personally is inappropriate and not in keeping with the [2:23:16] traditions of our committee mr chairman i'm just asking a question you all you guys are always [2:23:21] talking about religion here in the bible i mean it's okay for me to ask a question right but let [2:23:26] me continue on i got your notes all right the general lady may be much let me get back to my [2:23:30] question mr chairman thank you i appreciate you how many government agency mr lyons are you aware [2:23:36] of that routinely kill a lot of people and that's why i'm asking you this question i'm asking you [2:23:37] how many government agencies mr lyons are you aware of that routinely kill a lot of people and [2:23:37] that's why i'm asking you this question i'm asking you this question i'm asking you this question [2:23:37] american citizens citizens and you still get funding ma'am i'm not going to entertain that [2:23:44] exactly once again questions that you cannot answer and that is exactly why mr chairman [2:23:48] and to this committee to my colleagues and to my colleagues across the aisle [2:23:52] this is exactly why we should not be funding this agency the people are watching you [2:23:57] they are watching you and this is why we need to abolish ice with that i yield back thank you kindly [2:24:04] general lady yields back i now recognize a gentleman from colorado mr evan [2:24:08] united nations for five minutes of questions thank you mr chairman ranking member for this [2:24:11] important hearing this past year has been historic for national security thanks to the joint work [2:24:16] between the agencies present today and our republican colleagues the big beautiful bill [2:24:21] unlocked billions of dollars to finally secure the border and deliver much needed support for law [2:24:26] enforcement officials who keep us safe every day slashing things like the scourge of overdose deaths [2:24:32] that claimed approximately 400 000 lives under the previous administration and this is despite a lot of [2:24:38] increasing violence against federal officers which has been inspired by [2:24:42] fear-mongering from the Democrats. As a soldier for 12 years, as a cop for 10 [2:24:47] years, and as the only Latino in Colorado's delegation, it's been my [2:24:51] long-standing position that with a secure border we must use all available [2:24:55] resources to target the worst of the worst. Violent offenders like murderers [2:24:59] and rapists and so-called non-violent like drug dealers and thieves and child [2:25:04] porn producers. Get the gangsters, not the grandmas. Director Lyons, is ICE's [2:25:09] priority the apprehension and removal of criminal non-citizens rather than the [2:25:14] broader population of illegally present individuals? Yes, sir. [2:25:18] ICE's continued focus is on the criminal aliens that are in our neighborhoods. [2:25:22] Thank you. Unfortunately, Democrats in my state in [2:25:27] Colorado champion soft-on-crime sanctuary policies at the state level [2:25:31] and in cities like Denver, which borders my district. These policies not only [2:25:35] impede federal investigations that target cartels, gangbangers, entities like [2:25:40] Trenderagua, MS-13, the Sinaloa cartel, but they also endanger our communities by [2:25:46] releasing dangerous criminals back into the streets who continue to traffic [2:25:50] drugs, steal cars, intimidate families, and recruit children. In fact, fentanyl [2:25:54] overdose rates in Denver are going up in 2025. It's common sense that when local [2:26:00] or state police arrest an individual for a crime, those officers should be able to [2:26:05] obtain basic information about the arrestee, and those state and local [2:26:09] officers should then be allowed to share information with federal law [2:26:13] enforcement to communicate threats, honor detainer requests, and work together to [2:26:18] ensure national security and public safety. So, Director Lyons, can you please [2:26:23] explain how ICE works around sanctuary policies to go after the worst of the [2:26:29] worst? And do these sanctuary policies that release criminals back into the [2:26:35] community increase or decrease ICE's presence in the community and the [2:26:40] temperature of the interactions that ICE has with the community? [2:26:42] Sir, when we deal with sanctuary jurisdictions, we do have to have more law enforcement officers [2:26:48] in the street. Like I said earlier in my testimony, we'd much rather have the chance [2:26:53] to take an aggravated felon, repeat DUI offender into custody at a prison, local jail, or some [2:27:01] type of lockup environment where it's safer for my officers and for not only the individual, [2:27:07] but that community as well. And then given the opportunity to take that person into [2:27:11] custody before that person can reoffend. Unfortunately, as a field office director, [2:27:15] when I ran the Boston field office, we saw too many times that we placed a detainer on a sexual [2:27:19] assault individual who just went out later after the detainer was dropped to rape again. And that [2:27:26] is why we need cooperation at all levels, especially the local and state. [2:27:30] Thank you. Director Lyons, my district, 40% Hispanic, it's full of successful business [2:27:37] owners and strong immigrant families. [2:27:38] Thank you. Director Lyons, my district, 40% Hispanic, it's full of successful business owners and strong immigrant families. [2:27:38] Unfortunately, my colleagues across the aisle are fanning the flames of fear for their own [2:27:44] political gain in my Hispanic communities, scaring people over events that haven't happened in my [2:27:50] district. So I'd like for you for just a brief moment to speak directly to my constituents who [2:27:55] are legally present in the US, not criminals, but who are fearful of being searched or detained via [2:28:02] immigration efforts. Should they fear ICE? And what policies does ICE have to prevent the seizure of [2:28:08] people with [2:28:08] illegal status? [2:28:09] Sir, ICE officers and special agents are trained in immigration nationally. [2:28:14] So anyone that is here legally or lawfully or a US citizen should not be concerned about being deported or detained. [2:28:20] Unfortunately, many times there are individuals that are with criminal legal aliens. [2:28:27] And, sir, as you being a former law enforcement officer, you know, you arrive on a scene, you ID everyone in [2:28:32] that case. If we're looking for an individual and someone is here present in the country legally, then we're going to take action. [2:28:39] We're not going to take action. We're not going to take action. [2:28:40] to turn a blind eye no more, [2:28:41] but someone that's in the country lawfully [2:28:44] should not feel scared to walk down the street, [2:28:46] drive- [2:28:47] Thank you, sorry, I got 23 seconds left. [2:28:49] I have one thing that I want to ask. [2:28:51] As a cop, if I had an arrest warrant, [2:28:53] there's a difference between arrest warrants [2:28:55] and search warrants. [2:28:56] If I had an arrest warrant for an individual [2:28:57] and I thought they were in the house, [2:28:59] or if I was assisting social services with a child removal, [2:29:02] I still had to have an arrest warrant to go in the house. [2:29:05] So I have many questions about the memo saying [2:29:07] that you don't need a warrant to go into the house. [2:29:09] Will you commit with me at a later date to discuss this? [2:29:12] 100% sir, I would look forward to sitting down [2:29:14] and discussing that. [2:29:14] Yield back. [2:29:16] Gentleman yields back. [2:29:18] I now recognize the gentle lady from Texas, [2:29:20] Ms. Johnson, for five minutes of questions. [2:29:22] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:29:24] I would like to, Mr. Lyons, [2:29:26] I wanted to just follow up on a statement [2:29:29] that you just made, [2:29:30] which is that if you're here legally and lawfully, [2:29:33] you should not worry. [2:29:35] I think the problem is there are many, many immigrants [2:29:39] that are here legally and lawfully [2:29:41] that are very worried [2:29:42] because they have been snatched off the streets. [2:29:45] They have had their face beat in by ICE agents. [2:29:48] They've been yanked out of their car. [2:29:50] They've been driven around and harassed. [2:29:54] And so that is, I think at the end of the day, [2:29:57] you know, the key nut of the crux here, [2:29:59] which is that unfortunately, [2:30:01] there is not just this focus on criminals [2:30:04] and that people who are here in legal status. [2:30:07] And for example, [2:30:08] I have an example of this that I'd like to highlight for you. [2:30:11] And back in October, [2:30:13] Mahar Tarabishi, a North Texas resident, [2:30:16] who was allowed to be in this country legally [2:30:19] and was under a supervision order [2:30:21] to check in on an annual basis since 2008. [2:30:24] And did that because he had an adult disabled son. [2:30:28] And so he was here working as an IT consultant [2:30:31] and was here in legal process [2:30:33] to take care of his adult legal son. [2:30:35] He went to check into his appointment. [2:30:37] It so happened to be at the time [2:30:38] that the Dallas ICE office was closed due to the shootings. [2:30:41] and so he was not able to check in when he went back to check in he was [2:30:46] immediately snatched up and detained because he missed his appointment that [2:30:50] was unavoidable because the office was closed he told everyone here is he in [2:30:54] legal status he had been here since 2008 and he had an adult disabled son that [2:31:00] would likely pass away if he was not released he was not released his son [2:31:04] died and then to complicate it he was not allowed to go and attend the funeral [2:31:09] and he's still in detention in the Bluebonnet facility in Texas he is not a [2:31:15] criminal he has no criminal history he was here legally that is an unacceptable [2:31:19] outcome and I would like to know if you were willing to review his case and help [2:31:25] us get his release because he should not be in the Bluebonnet detention facility [2:31:29] under these facts yes ma'am we were I'm committed to review in that case you I [2:31:32] appreciate that the other issue that I am really very concerned about is these [2:31:40] warrantless entries into people's homes [2:31:43] it is a problem that is of epic proportion there was just recently [2:31:48] yesterday circulation a Latino family ice just broke into their home without a [2:31:54] warrant and and there was an example where they arrested a man in his pajamas [2:31:58] who had every right to be here as a U.S citizen but wrongfully snatched out in [2:32:03] the freezing cold without a warrant to do so the problem that we're having [2:32:07] nobody wants to see attacks on ice agents sir but this is something I have [2:32:11] brought up in this committee time and time again [2:32:13] which is unfortunately under your leadership and under Secretary Noem's [2:32:18] leadership this rogue brutality that ice agents are inflicting upon the people of [2:32:23] this country is not being reigned in it's not being the the agents who are [2:32:28] abusing their power are not being held accountable I'm sure that there are many [2:32:33] many fine agents who are doing everything they can to exercise their [2:32:37] duty lawfully but the problem is there are agents who are not and the power [2:32:42] that they have has gone to their [2:32:44] head and they use that power unconstitutionally in violation of many [2:32:50] people's direct constitutional rights and what you're seeing in this country [2:32:53] is the fact that your agency you're not it's not stopping and rather than saying [2:32:59] yes we're going to take steps to keep these people who are abusing their power [2:33:04] and who are terrorizing citizens of this country wrongfully that we're going to [2:33:08] hold them account rather than have well that's what we want to see you're [2:33:12] doubling down on that we're only going after criminals [2:33:15] which is in your own comments you said that you had 397 I think that's right 379 000 arrests [2:33:23] but only 8 700 of them were suspected gang members or known suspected [2:33:28] terrorists that's two percent and the problem is we can't terrorize 98 percent [2:33:35] of the people in this country that have been wrongfully detained for two percent that's [2:33:42] that's not how the system works and that is not okay and so we have to do a better job and [2:33:48] so what what procedures are you putting in place to hold agents accountable who clearly have a hot [2:33:56] trigger and who hear who clearly abuse their Authority because someone has a phone and a [2:34:01] whistle ma'am ice does have the office of professional responsibility it's a robust [2:34:07] internal investigation agency that does investigate allegations of special agent or deportation officer [2:34:13] misconduct and we do take everyone seriously and we do investigate those well those are not being [2:34:19] Republic publicly reported [2:34:20] so that's where there's a huge breach of the public trust because there does not appear to [2:34:24] be any accountability sir thank you and I'll yield back gentle lady yields back I now recognize the [2:34:30] gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr McKenzie for five minutes of questions thank you Mr Chairman and I [2:34:35] appreciate all of our testifiers being here today before I begin I would like to thank all of our [2:34:40] members of law enforcement across the country who work every day to keep our communities safe and [2:34:46] also to their families that sacrifice we know that it's a challenging job and [2:34:51] the environment is made particularly challenging by those who want to oppose our law enforcement [2:34:56] from carrying out their lawful duties to keep everybody in our country in our community safe [2:35:03] uh as was discussed earlier there are a couple areas though where I think it's appropriate to [2:35:08] discuss potential reforms and the way that we can improve our government operations DHS guidance [2:35:15] indicates that ice does not arrest or detain U.S citizens on the other hand social media is full of [2:35:21] threats and accusations that this is occurring as you know any accusation that an American citizen's [2:35:26] rights are violated is very serious can you clarify Mr Lyons whether this is something that [2:35:32] it occurs and what are the circumstances where a U.S citizen might be detained and what steps [2:35:39] does ice take to prevent mistakes yes sir if I appreciate the question well unfortunately there's [2:35:44] a misnomer that ice is just a civil enforcement agency and that's completely wrong ice enforces [2:35:51] around 400 criminal statutes as well special agents especially with the Homeland Security [2:35:56] investigations they're consistently out there doing human trafficking cases drug cases uh [2:36:02] terrorism cases we do encounter U.S citizens and those who do commit federal crimes are arrested [2:36:06] but under Title VIII no U.S citizen is subject to civil immigration enforcement and that just [2:36:11] doesn't happen there are multiple safeguards in that way and if if a U.S citizen is detained in [2:36:19] the course of immigration investigation they're quickly released we don't take action on American [2:36:23] citizens if it does occur where a U.S citizen is detained during the course of another [2:36:29] investigation how is that documented and conveyed to the public about the fact that this did occur [2:36:35] and what the circumstances around that were so sir if you say it's a separate investigation if [2:36:40] it comes to a criminal case obviously a lot of those are on the seal or ongoing investigations [2:36:46] we won't expose that but we we're transparent in the case when it comes to any U.S citizens that's [2:36:53] in law enforcement operations that subsequently arrested I appreciate that I think greater [2:36:57] transparency could be beneficial for both the American public and everybody involved here if [2:37:03] we clearly articulate what occurred in many of these instances I've seen it myself when I'm [2:37:08] looking into local issues in our community there are often times two sides of the story and when [2:37:14] it is actually conveyed what did occur and why it occurred there's a greater understanding in [2:37:19] our local community of the law enforcement activities that occurred the second thing I [2:37:23] would like to hit on is jurisdictions which are sometimes referred to sanctuary cities not a clear [2:37:29] definition as we all know but local authorities in our community we have Northampton County which [2:37:35] does not honor ice detainer requests for 48 hours and properly convey to ice and law enforcement [2:37:44] about the release of that individual when that may occur or even during that detainer period allow ice [2:37:52] to come under their property [2:37:54] to make an arrest in a secure facility obviously that leaves our community in a vulnerable position [2:37:59] in our case members of Trendy Aragua domestic abusers have been released onto the street and [2:38:06] ice had to stake out that location making the arrests in an unsecure way out in the local [2:38:12] community from your perspective how does this dynamic affect Public Safety and day-to-day [2:38:17] operations and where or how can we change and improve the coordination between ice [2:38:24] and state and local partners thank you sir again I know what I would say is just very basic [2:38:29] communication would go a long way for Public Safety you know ice respects and abides by state [2:38:35] municipality laws are well where sometimes you can't hold for any reasons but a simple phone [2:38:41] call to let us know that that individual is going to be released or if that individual [2:38:45] is released sharing that biographical data with us will go a long way because the last thing we [2:38:50] want is a criminal legal alien to go back into the community [2:38:54] often than not, they prey upon other migrants who are coming here for a better life, yet that they [2:38:59] can hide in plain sight because these sanctuary jurisdictions won't just pick up a phone, [2:39:05] notify ICE that they're being re-realized. Well, I appreciate that. I think we want full [2:39:09] cooperation between our local law enforcement and federal agents when they are trying to do [2:39:13] their job. If somebody is on a detainer, they should be allowed onto that property, [2:39:17] given the ability within that detainer window to make a lawful arrest. I think it would go a long [2:39:22] way to keeping our community safe. I would like to thank all of you again for being here. The fact [2:39:27] that you are here and present for this kind of testimony, I think, brings greater accountability [2:39:32] and increases the ability for us to make reforms in Congress. Thank you again. [2:39:36] Gentleman yields back. I now recognize the gentlelady from New Jersey, Ms. Poe, [2:39:40] for five minutes of questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to our ranking member, [2:39:45] Thompson. Gentlemen, thank you so very much for being here. Let me just be clear. [2:39:50] Secretary Noem must step down. [2:39:53] or be impeached by the House, period. The lawlessness, the cruelty, the outright viciousness [2:40:01] that she has created has destroyed an agency whose very mission is to protect our country. [2:40:10] Under Noem's leadership, congressional oversight is ignored, detention visits are blocked, [2:40:17] due process is ignored, and laws are broken without thought. [2:40:24] This is the first time... [2:40:25] any of you have testified before our committee. It took two American citizens being murdered [2:40:32] in cold blood to get you to show up. Ice raids schools, churches, and hospitals. [2:40:40] And let's not forget five-year-old Liam Ramos. You used him as a bait and then detained him [2:40:48] despite his father's legally... his father legally seeking asylum. Liam is the face of the [2:40:55] of your cruelty. [2:40:58] My district is one of the most [2:41:00] ethnically diverse in America. [2:41:04] Our diversity is our strength, [2:41:07] but somehow you all seem to believe it's a weakness. [2:41:11] Last fall, the Supreme Court green-lit [2:41:15] ICE's ability to yank people off the street [2:41:18] based on one thing such as, quote, [2:41:23] the type of work one does speaking Spanish [2:41:26] or speaking with an accent, [2:41:28] and their apparent race or ethnicity. [2:41:32] Mr. Lyons, I speak Spanish. [2:41:35] If I wasn't wearing any, [2:41:38] if I wasn't wearing my member pin, [2:41:40] would me being a Latina or speaking Spanish [2:41:45] be enough for ICE agents to harass me [2:41:47] or shove me into one of your unmarked cars? [2:41:51] No, ma'am. [2:41:52] I speak for all of you. [2:41:54] All of us, when I say that I think [2:41:57] we know the real answer to this. [2:42:00] These are the realities traumatizing my constituents. [2:42:06] We know that ICE is transferring New Jersey detainees [2:42:10] to other states like Texas, [2:42:12] ripping them from their families [2:42:14] and leaving them unable to challenge their detention. [2:42:17] Mr. ICE, yes or no? [2:42:19] I'm sorry, Mr. Lyons, yes or no? [2:42:23] Ma'am, I'm sorry. [2:42:24] Will you provide us, Mr. Lyons, [2:42:25] with the list of people ICE has transferred [2:42:27] from New Jersey to other states [2:42:29] so that I can inform their families where they are? [2:42:33] Yes, ma'am. [2:42:35] These are people like my constituent, [2:42:39] Lee Cal Cordia, [2:42:44] whose ICE shipped to Texas [2:42:47] and continues to detain despite two judicial orders [2:42:54] compelling her release. [2:42:57] Over the weekend, Lee Cal was hospitalized for 72 hours [2:43:03] while her family had no idea where she was at [2:43:08] nor the status of her condition. [2:43:11] Mr. Lyons, would you be willing to look into this [2:43:15] to make sure to release my constituent? [2:43:18] Why have we failed? [2:43:20] Why have you failed to inform her family [2:43:24] where she was sent and the status of her condition? [2:43:27] When will she be freed? [2:43:31] Yes, ma'am, you have my commitment [2:43:32] that I'll look into that. [2:43:33] Thank you. [2:43:34] Now soon, Mr. Lyons and all of you, [2:43:38] my district will host the World Cup matches [2:43:42] and hundreds of thousands of visitors will come. [2:43:46] Visitors confident. [2:43:47] Confidence is plummering and jeopardizing the World Cup. [2:43:52] Mr. Lyons, will ICE commit, [2:43:55] will you commit to ensure that pausing its operation, [2:43:59] its operations and race at FIFA matches [2:44:02] and other FIFA sanctioned public events? [2:44:07] Ma'am, ICE, specifically Homeland Security Investigations, [2:44:09] is a key part of the overall security apparatus [2:44:13] for the World Cup. [2:44:13] We're dedicated to securing that operation [2:44:16] and we're dedicated to the security of all our participants [2:44:19] as well as visitors. [2:44:20] You realize that if they feel [2:44:22] that they're going to be wrongfully incarcerated [2:44:26] or wrongfully pulled out, that's going to hurt this entire [2:44:30] country. [2:44:30] Thank you. [2:44:30] Thank you. [2:44:30] Thank you. [2:44:30] Thank you. [2:44:30] Thank you. [2:44:31] Thank you. [2:44:31] Thank you. [2:44:31] Thank you. [2:44:31] Thank you. [2:44:32] Thank you. [2:44:32] Thank you. [2:44:32] Thank you. [2:44:32] Thank you. [2:44:32] Thank you. [2:44:32] Thank you. [2:44:33] Thank you. [2:44:33] Thank you. [2:44:33] Thank you. [2:44:33] Thank you. [2:44:33] Thank you. [2:44:33] Thank you. [2:44:33] Thank you. [2:44:33] And ICE will continue to ensure [2:44:34] that everyone that visits the facilities [2:44:37] will have a safe and secure event. [2:44:38] Without these assurances, our local communities [2:44:42] and national reputations will indeed be suffered. [2:44:46] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:44:47] I yield back. [2:44:48] General Lady yields back. [2:44:49] I now recognize the gentleman from North Carolina, [2:44:51] Mr. Knott, for five minutes of questions. [2:44:53] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:44:54] Using the trope diversity is our strength [2:44:57] as an excuse for lawlessness [2:45:00] is unbelievably naive and dangerous. [2:45:02] Nobody in this room would say that diversity is a bad thing. [2:45:06] Lawlessness is a bad thing. [2:45:08] Law and order is much more of our strength [2:45:10] than open border policies [2:45:12] that welcomes anybody with no vetting. [2:45:14] And when you get down to the nuts and bolts of this issue, [2:45:17] we would not be having this hearing [2:45:19] if the Democrats attacked illegal immigration [2:45:22] with the same vigor that they're attacking law enforcement [2:45:24] and the men at this table. [2:45:26] That's a fact. [2:45:27] And it's worth noting that the dishonesty [2:45:30] in framing these issues has been unbelievably obvious. [2:45:35] It's been consistent. [2:45:36] And just to, as an anecdote, Mr. Lyons, [2:45:39] was Liam used as bait by your agency? [2:45:43] No, sir. [2:45:43] Actually, law enforcement officers took care of the child [2:45:45] after the father abandoned him at a- [2:45:48] Walk us through what that means. [2:45:50] So, sir, the individual that was driving that vehicle [2:45:52] with Liam who was in fled from the scene from the officers. [2:45:55] Officers, he was obviously upset. [2:45:58] We comforted him. [2:45:58] Officers actually placed him in one of our vehicles, [2:46:01] played his favorite song, favorite music. [2:46:04] Then they took him to McDonald's. [2:46:05] You all got him McDonald's. [2:46:07] So you all did not abduct him. [2:46:09] You did not use him as bait. [2:46:10] Any characterization of that is a lie. [2:46:12] And it has been repeated over and over [2:46:15] by the Democrats to frame your agency. [2:46:18] You know, it's worth noting again [2:46:19] that the Democrats fought to prevent any vetting [2:46:22] of 20 million illegal immigrants [2:46:24] into this country over the last four years. [2:46:27] They attack agents rather than those who are assaulting them. [2:46:30] They are assaulting agents today. [2:46:33] They continually misframe what's happening in the ground. [2:46:37] They continually malign the law enforcement officers [2:46:39] who are providing legal structure [2:46:42] to otherwise lawless landscapes in this country. [2:46:46] And it's worth noting that there have been [2:46:48] roughly two million people in the country [2:46:50] who have been removed in the last year, [2:46:51] some voluntarily and then some by forced deportations. [2:46:56] We've heard roughly about 25 cases of alleged abuse. [2:47:00] Some of them, as I just, as I just pointed out, are people who are being deported. [2:47:01] Some of them, as I just, as I just pointed out, are people who are being deported. [2:47:01] Some of them, as I just, as I just pointed out, are dishonestly framed. [2:47:04] But let's do a favor to the Democratic side. [2:47:06] Let's increase that number by 1,000 times. [2:47:10] 25,000 cases of alleged abuse or improper protocols, [2:47:15] we are still operating at roughly 99% proficiency. [2:47:20] Given the scale of the problem, [2:47:22] the scale of the solution that you all are operating under, [2:47:25] your agents are doing a remarkable job, and I thank you. [2:47:31] But one issue that I want to talk about is this idea [2:47:34] of sanctuary policies. [2:47:36] Sanctuary policies is not just a passive relinquishing effort. [2:47:40] It's an active obstruction. [2:47:42] Isn't that true, Mr. Lyons? [2:47:44] Yes, sir. [2:47:45] And what I mean by that is when I say it's an active, [2:47:47] to be specific, there are sanctuary states and cities [2:47:52] that will release violent criminals [2:47:56] rather than handing them over to pursuing federal law enforcement. [2:47:59] Isn't that correct? [2:48:00] That is correct, sir. [2:48:01] I left the hearing a few moments ago [2:48:04] just to find a criminal [2:48:05] that I think would be a good example of that. [2:48:08] And I'll give you a quick example. [2:48:10] Here's one right behind me. [2:48:11] Just 30 hours ago, an illegal alien arrested [2:48:15] for stabbing an American in the back. [2:48:17] He was charged with attempted murder. [2:48:19] He pled to a lesser offense. [2:48:21] The feds wanted him, sought a detainer. [2:48:24] And then rather than hold him for your agent's pickup, [2:48:27] he was released back into the streets of Maryland. [2:48:31] That is not an unusual action from local, hostile law enforcement. [2:48:37] Is it, Mr. Lyons? [2:48:38] No, sir. [2:48:38] I don't want to complain that we're not getting the worst of the worst, [2:48:41] but there are sanctuary jurisdictions [2:48:43] that control roughly 40% of this country's population [2:48:48] will actively release sex predators, drug dealers, violent offenders [2:48:53] rather than hand them over to you for deportation. [2:48:56] And these are people who are already in custody. [2:48:59] Am I correct, Mr. Lyons? [2:49:01] Yes, sir. [2:49:01] The individuals are already deemed a public safety threat [2:49:03] by local or state law enforcement. [2:49:05] And then when they get a federal detainer, [2:49:06] they will release them [2:49:08] on the street rather than turn them over for deportation. [2:49:11] Yes, sir. [2:49:12] It's disgusting. [2:49:14] Mr. Scott, I want to talk to you briefly. [2:49:15] I'm running out of time. [2:49:16] How many cities does your agency operate in? [2:49:21] We operate nationwide. [2:49:23] Why is it that there is so much tension in Minneapolis-St. Paul right now? [2:49:27] Because paid agitators are actively trying to stop law enforcement action. [2:49:32] Without that, you wouldn't even have any idea most of these arrests were taking place. [2:49:35] In many parts of the country, local law enforcement assists your efforts to bring [2:49:39] legal structure to these lawless areas. [2:49:42] Isn't that correct? [2:49:42] That's correct. [2:49:44] And when order is maintained, you can do your job peacefully, correct? [2:49:47] Correct. [2:49:48] And all we've ever asked is for law enforcement to do their job, not necessarily. [2:49:52] In Minneapolis-St. Paul, local law enforcement, in some cases, [2:49:55] have been prohibited from maintaining order so you can do your job. [2:49:58] Isn't that correct? [2:49:59] Correct. [2:50:00] Gentlemen, time has expired. [2:50:02] Thank you. [2:50:02] I now recognize a gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Walkinshaw, for five minutes. [2:50:06] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:50:07] Director Lyons, your opening statement referenced, [2:50:09] the importance of protecting children. [2:50:12] And I'm glad to hear your commitment to that. [2:50:15] I want to focus on one of President Trump's mass deportation policies that [2:50:19] the experts say harms children, child detention. [2:50:25] In this administration, under your watch, ICE has booked nearly 4,000 children. [2:50:32] And 1,000 of them have been held longer than the court-ordered 20-day limit. [2:50:38] Recently, ProPublica obtained handwritten letters and drawings from children, [2:50:42] detained by ICE. [2:50:44] These are letters from children describing what it feels like and what it does to them [2:50:50] when the government locks them up. [2:50:53] This is Ariana. [2:50:54] She's 14 years old, detained for 45 days. [2:50:59] Since I got to this center, all I feel is sadness and mostly depression. [2:51:05] This is Mia, 7 years old. [2:51:08] I don't want to be in this place. [2:51:10] I want to go to my school. [2:51:14] This is Scarlett, 17-years-old. [2:51:17] I feel very bored and overwhelmed. [2:51:19] overwhelmed because I am locked up. This is Gabby, 14 years old. I feel so much sadness and depression [2:51:29] of not being able to leave. This is Maria, nine years old. Me in Dilley am not happy. Please get [2:51:42] me out of here. This is a 12-year-old going to the doctor, and the only thing they tell me is drink [2:51:52] more water. The water here is what makes people sick. And this one got me, Mr. Lyons, because this [2:51:58] is a five-year-old, Luis Annie. My son's five. He can't write many words, but he can communicate [2:52:06] through drawings like this. This is a picture of Luis Annie's family, and you might be able to see [2:52:11] that none of the faces are smiling. Child detention is not required by law. You know that. It's not [2:52:23] the only option available, and it's not effective. We know that community-based alternatives can [2:52:31] ensure compliance with proceedings without traumatizing these children. Yet, [2:52:37] you continue to detain and hold children for weeks or months, depriving them of school, [2:52:46] stability, leaving them afraid, sick, and confused. And one of the key reasons for your mass detention, [2:52:55] including the detention of Liam and his father, is to pressure people to give up their legal [2:53:03] opportunities and pathways to remaining in the United States. Liam's father was following the [2:53:08] rules, following the legal process, and he was not able to do that. He was not able to do that. [2:53:10] Let me be clear. No child, not Liam Ramos, not Gabby, or any of these children should be used as [2:53:20] pawns in Stephen Miller's sick and twisted great replacement agenda. Mr. Lyons, in 2025, [2:53:31] the British Journal of Psychiatry analyzed all of the data on the impact of immigration detention [2:53:38] on children's health. Have you read that study and analysis? No, sir, I haven't. You're the director, [2:53:44] you're not familiar with that literature. No, sir. You could tell me, I'm sure, chapter and verse [2:53:50] on the tactics and the equipment that your agents use, military-style equipment across the country [2:53:57] in American cities, but you don't know anything about the literature of the impacts of your [2:54:01] policies on children. You haven't read it. No, sir. The Flores Agreement, I'm sure you know that, [2:54:10] sets a 20-day limit on detaining children. You and the Trump administration are trying to terminate [2:54:17] that agreement. [2:54:18] How long would you like to hold children? 20 days, 40 days, 60 days, 100 days? What's the right [2:54:27] number, Mr. Lyons? So we wouldn't like to hold any children. We would like to remove that family [2:54:31] unit together safely and humanely and as quickly as possible. Thank you. Since you haven't read [2:54:36] the literature, let me tell you what it says. Detention harms children. No period, no period, [2:54:44] not 20, 40, 75 days that you're holding children can be deemed safe. [2:54:51] All detention of children has adverse impacts and is profoundly detrimental. Your policies are [2:55:00] profoundly detrimental to children. I yield back. The gentleman yields back. I now recognize the [2:55:07] gentleman from California, Mr. Fong, for five minutes of questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [2:55:14] Thank you all for those who are here testifying. I want to thank you to you and your teams and [2:55:21] your personnel for what you do. Commissioner Scott, you mentioned and you, [2:55:24] in your testimony, national security cannot exist without effective border security. Couldn't agree [2:55:28] more. Everyone on your teams are doing tremendous work under difficult conditions, and I want to [2:55:34] thank you all. I do want to ask and dive in a little deeper as a Californian on the dangers [2:55:41] and the consequences of these sanctuary policies. Director Lyons, I was in the state legislature [2:55:48] in 2017 when sanctuary state policies were put in in California. I opposed, [2:55:54] I supported them. I went to the law school in 2015 and I made them a law school in 2014. The [2:56:00] law school, the law school were the only state police in California. We were the only building [2:56:05] that had free and equitable access to security, and we had a significant impact on the system. [2:56:09] But in the early years of the law school, as you know, there was a crazy thing that happened at [2:56:14] เป-54 because at that time and everything has proven to be true, it was outlined that the impact [2:56:20] on ICE and Border Patrol agents was that they would be reduced information and access, agents would be [2:56:24] Can you give specifics on how these sanctuary state policies [2:56:29] impact your operations in real time [2:56:33] compared to non-sanctuary operations? [2:56:36] Well, sir, for ICE, I'll refer back [2:56:39] to what we talked about earlier in my testimony, [2:56:41] the fact that when state or local or county agencies [2:56:45] don't cooperate with Immigration Customs Enforcement, [2:56:48] it forces us to go back out to the community, [2:56:50] which we don't wanna do. [2:56:51] It also increases the number of assets [2:56:53] we have to put towards that arrest. [2:56:55] Like I said earlier, I would much rather send [2:56:57] one or two agents or officers to make that arrest [2:56:59] in a safe, secure location, [2:57:01] rather than being out in the street. [2:57:02] It's safer for everyone involved. [2:57:04] And before I go to you, Commissioner Scott, and answer, [2:57:07] I just wanna let everyone know, in California, [2:57:10] and I think it was just reported a couple days ago, [2:57:13] there were currently 33,179 illegal aliens [2:57:17] in the custody of California jurisdictions [2:57:19] with active detainers. [2:57:20] The crimes of these aliens include 399 homicides, [2:57:23] 3,313 assaults, [2:57:25] 3,179 assaults, [2:57:26] 271 burglaries, [2:57:27] 1,011 robberies, [2:57:29] 8,380 dangerous drug offenses, [2:57:32] 1,984 weapon offenses, [2:57:34] and 1,293 sexual predatory offenses. [2:57:38] These are the real-world consequences in that, right, [2:57:40] Commissioner Scott, when we don't have cooperation, [2:57:42] they're released into the community? [2:57:45] Those are exactly the consequences. [2:57:47] And I would just add, California-specific, [2:57:48] they went above and beyond everybody else, [2:57:51] I mean, in a negative way. [2:57:52] They prohibited state and locals [2:57:54] when they saw a crime taking place [2:57:56] in front of them from sharing that information with us. [2:57:58] San Diego, for example, right after that law was passed, [2:58:02] a Highway Patrol pulled over a U-Haul van, [2:58:05] and it was a smuggling event, [2:58:06] probably a human trafficking event. [2:58:09] A Border Patrol agent just happened to roll up on it [2:58:11] and found out, luckily, [2:58:13] but that Highway Patrol was disciplined [2:58:16] and actually investigated internally, [2:58:18] and that sent a chilling effect [2:58:19] across the entire state of California [2:58:21] that not only can you not actively take, like help us, [2:58:25] you couldn't even pass information, [2:58:26] you couldn't even pass information to us [2:58:27] in a normal course of duties. [2:58:29] Border security law enforcement's a team sport. [2:58:31] We need to be working together, not against each other. [2:58:34] Now, can you explain what would have happened, [2:58:37] and I think you alluded to it, [2:58:39] but what would have happened prior to that [2:58:42] if there was local and state coordination [2:58:44] with federal law enforcement? [2:58:46] On a daily basis, especially along the Southwest border, [2:58:48] and let's not forget, and the coast, [2:58:50] because we have boats coming in, [2:58:51] when a state or local agency would see illegal activity [2:58:54] that they could take action on, [2:58:56] and then they saw a federal crime, [2:58:58] they would contact us. [2:59:00] It happened all the time, [2:59:01] and that completely ceased to exist when SB 54 was passed. [2:59:05] And these crimes, of course, as you mentioned before, [2:59:07] if you go into specifics, I mean, [2:59:08] this is trafficking, both humans and drugs. [2:59:11] This is rape, assaults. [2:59:13] I mean, anything, you were telling me [2:59:15] that if any of those crimes occurred, [2:59:17] if right now in California, if someone witnessed it, [2:59:22] if a state law enforcement or local law enforcement [2:59:24] witnessed these crimes being committed, [2:59:26] they could not notify. [2:59:27] They could not tell you. [2:59:28] They have some felony exceptions, [2:59:29] but in most cases, you don't know [2:59:31] until you start asking questions, [2:59:32] if it's just a smuggling event or a human trafficking event. [2:59:35] Until you actually pop the trunk of the vehicle [2:59:37] or the back of the car, [2:59:38] you don't know what commodity is back there, [2:59:41] if it's people or something else. [2:59:42] It put a chilling effect beyond the actual written language [2:59:47] on any kind of cooperation in the state. [2:59:49] Well, I want to thank you for that. [2:59:50] Yes, there were some exceptions when it comes to felonies, [2:59:53] but someone who lives in California and was there [2:59:57] for the discussion and debate, [2:59:59] everything we warned about when it came [3:00:00] to sanctuary state policies and the consequences [3:00:03] to our community and the consequences to public safety, [3:00:06] they have come true. [3:00:07] And that is sad and unfortunate, [3:00:09] and we need to undo those policies. [3:00:10] So I want to thank you all for your leadership [3:00:12] and testimony and your work. [3:00:14] Thank you, and Mr. Chairman, I'll yield back. [3:00:16] Gentleman yields back. [3:00:17] I now recognize the gentleman from Louisiana, [3:00:19] Mr. Carter, for five minutes of questions. [3:00:21] Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. [3:00:22] And to our witnesses, thank you for being here. [3:00:25] What we've heard today and seen play out [3:00:28] in the streets of this nation for the past year [3:00:30] straight out of the Trump administration's fascist playbook. [3:00:35] Cheat, murder, lie about it, practice [3:00:39] the art of mass distraction. [3:00:44] American people are not happy about this. [3:00:48] This administration's officials are sitting before us. [3:00:52] Two people are dead. [3:00:54] I understand that there's an investigation, [3:00:56] and you cannot go into the details about that. [3:00:59] But there certainly appears to be [3:01:01] no shame on the, undoubtedly, [3:01:03] watched some of your officers conduct themselves in ways [3:01:08] that I know you don't condone. [3:01:11] Not as law-abiding people, right? [3:01:13] So I got to give you the benefit of doubt. [3:01:15] And I can't understand why you show no shame, no contrition, [3:01:19] no remorse for the human lives that have been lost, [3:01:24] or for the trampling of the Constitution [3:01:28] and the tearing apart of the moral fiber of our nation. [3:01:34] They think, apparently, you think, apparently, [3:01:38] you've been coached, apparently. [3:01:39] You've been called out of the room with a forced break [3:01:43] to be told to be more aggressive, [3:01:45] to push back against questions. [3:01:49] The American people saw that happen. [3:01:52] The American people watched as you all looked at each other. [3:01:54] Oh, I didn't ask for a break. [3:01:55] And clearly, you were called on the back to be coached, [3:01:58] a halftime locker room pep talk. [3:02:04] This isn't a game. [3:02:05] These are people's lives. [3:02:10] We should all be, you should be, your officers [3:02:12] should be held accountable. [3:02:14] That no one is above the law. [3:02:19] No one can evade the Constitution. [3:02:21] No person can evade what is right, [3:02:28] even though you think that Donald Trump will protect you. [3:02:32] And maybe he will for now. [3:02:34] But there will be a time that you [3:02:36] have to answer these questions. [3:02:38] And while you have worked on many administrations, [3:02:40] and it's been asked, you worked on different administrations. [3:02:43] What's different? [3:02:43] I'll tell you what's different. [3:02:44] The approach, the approach of how you conduct it, [3:02:48] your search and seizure. [3:02:51] The reason there were so many others, [3:02:53] and they were not riots, was because people [3:02:55] were not being trampled. [3:02:56] You had trained officers who knew the art of de-escalation. [3:03:01] They understood the rule of law. [3:03:03] They understood the Constitution. [3:03:06] Yet now we continue to hear lies. [3:03:08] Last year, I took members of Congress [3:03:11] on an oversight visit to ICE facility. [3:03:13] We were told certain things that turned out to be patent lies. [3:03:18] They told us. [3:03:19] Things that we witnessed within moments [3:03:21] of being there to not be true. [3:03:22] Yet we continue to hear you and some of my colleagues [3:03:26] suggest, don't believe your eyes. [3:03:28] Don't believe your ears. [3:03:30] Just trust us. [3:03:31] Well, the American people can see. [3:03:33] And this notion that Democrats don't want enforcement, [3:03:38] those are talking points that are wrong. [3:03:40] We want rapists and murderers off the street. [3:03:43] We want the bad, the worst of the worst, [3:03:45] to be arrested and to be deported if they aren't supposed [3:03:50] to be here. [3:03:50] What we don't want is citizens running down the street [3:03:54] being chased by ICE agents. [3:03:58] People being shot on the streets by rogue officers [3:04:02] who are, in fact, American citizens. [3:04:05] What we don't want is to see people like Ms. Good [3:04:08] or Mr. Preti simply doing what we often say, [3:04:15] if you see something, say something. [3:04:18] We don't want to see people dying on the streets. [3:04:21] So let me ask you. [3:04:21] Let me ask you a quick question. [3:04:24] Mr. Lyons, has ICE ever detained an American citizen [3:04:27] such as they are not free to leave, [3:04:29] whether it is on the sidewalk, the street, [3:04:32] or thrown into the back of an ICE vehicle [3:04:34] because they looked or sounded a certain way, [3:04:37] even though they said they were American citizens? [3:04:41] Yes or no, quickly. [3:04:42] I only got 38 seconds. [3:04:44] No, sir. [3:04:45] That's never happened before. [3:04:47] That we've arrested one? [3:04:48] No, sir. [3:04:49] We've detained individuals to verify identity, [3:04:52] but we haven't arrested or deported. [3:04:53] No, sir. [3:04:54] I mean the rest. [3:04:55] Check it out. [3:04:56] It's the same thing. [3:04:57] All right, all right. [3:04:59] What does an undocumented person look like or sound like? [3:05:03] Does it look like Mr. Garbarino? [3:05:05] Does it look like me? [3:05:07] Could look like anyone, sir. [3:05:08] OK, well, how are you training your people? [3:05:10] Because you've said and others have said, [3:05:13] if they sound a certain way, they look a certain way, [3:05:15] we're going to stop them. [3:05:16] That was quoted by your people. [3:05:18] What do you say to that? [3:05:19] Sir, what I say is that ICE does criminal targeted [3:05:21] enforcement based on intelligence, [3:05:23] and we don't use the color of skin or accents for that. [3:05:25] So the person who said that was wrong. [3:05:27] We'll let the gentleman get that answer in writing. [3:05:32] His time has expired. [3:05:33] We will now recognize the gentleman from Tennessee, [3:05:36] Mr. Van Eps, for five minutes of questions. [3:05:38] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing [3:05:40] and to our witnesses for testifying today. [3:05:42] I want to commend the job the Trump administration [3:05:45] and you gentlemen are doing to secure the border, [3:05:48] enforce federal immigration laws, [3:05:50] and keep dangerous criminals off our streets. [3:05:53] Under President Biden, we saw unprecedented levels [3:05:56] of illegal immigration, [3:05:58] and many of those who came across the border [3:06:00] were connected to transnational criminal organizations [3:06:04] and have continued to commit crimes [3:06:05] while in the United States. [3:06:07] Despite doing everything they could to secure our borders, [3:06:10] our brave CBP officers and border patrol agents [3:06:13] were undermined at every turn [3:06:14] by the Biden-Harris administration. [3:06:17] Yet under President Trump, CBP, border patrol, and ICE [3:06:20] have been empowered to do their job [3:06:22] and fulfill their mission. [3:06:23] As a representative from Tennessee, [3:06:25] I can't help but compare operations [3:06:27] in Minneapolis to those in Memphis. [3:06:30] Federal law enforcement operations in Memphis [3:06:32] have been successful by every standard and metric, [3:06:35] with Memphis Safe Task Force arresting over 6,000 people. [3:06:39] And while immigration enforcement isn't a stated goal [3:06:42] of this task force, there is no leadership [3:06:44] of Governor Lee, who has worked closely [3:06:46] with federal partners. [3:06:48] Over the last year, the Trump administration [3:06:50] has arrested numerous gang members, [3:06:52] pedophiles, and drug traffickers in Memphis, [3:06:54] with little fanfare or interference from activists. [3:06:57] As a result of this cooperation, the federal law enforcement [3:06:58] and border patrol agencies have been able to [3:07:00] find ways to use their force to get the people [3:07:02] they're after and to get their victims. [3:07:03] As a result of this cooperation, murders in Memphis [3:07:05] are down by 47% since President Trump took office, [3:07:06] and overall violent crime is down by 30%. [3:07:07] In May of last year, ICE enforcement [3:07:09] and removal operations worked with Tennessee Highway Patrol [3:07:13] and DHS components to successfully arrest [3:07:15] 196 criminal illegal aliens [3:07:18] across the greater Nashville area. [3:07:20] I am grateful for the role the members [3:07:22] of the Tennessee Highway Patrol played in that operation, [3:07:25] and their cooperation has made my district [3:07:27] significantly safer. [3:07:29] In 2010, over 56 partnering agencies [3:07:32] are working together alongside ICE [3:07:35] to keep Tennesseans safe. [3:07:36] ICE has carefully highlighted the worst [3:07:38] of the worst criminal aliens it has arrested. [3:07:42] Today, I will be entering into the record [3:07:43] nearly 120 illegal aliens that have been arrested [3:07:46] in Nashville, with rap sheets ranging [3:07:49] from identity theft to drug smuggling, [3:07:51] larceny to arson, and robbery to rape. [3:07:54] Federal agents are executing their mission [3:07:55] to defend American citizens and protect our communities. [3:07:58] The major changes to the law enforcement system, [3:08:00] as well as the law enforcement system, [3:08:02] have been made in Minneapolis. [3:08:03] The major challenges we've seen in Minneapolis [3:08:04] and similar cities are directly caused [3:08:05] by sanctuary city policies and the refusal [3:08:07] of local leaders to enforce the law, [3:08:09] preventing local law enforcement from working with ICE. [3:08:12] This leaves ICE and others unsupported, [3:08:15] having to manage protesters and domestic friction [3:08:17] in addition to their actual mission [3:08:19] of enforcing immigration law. [3:08:21] Local law enforcement is crucial to facilitate the mission. [3:08:25] Director Lyons contrasts ICE's experience in Minneapolis [3:08:29] with other cities around the country, including Minneapolis, [3:08:31] including Memphis and others that have agreements [3:08:33] to work with ICE. [3:08:34] What can successful partnerships with local law enforcement [3:08:38] and other partners look like? [3:08:41] Sir, thank you. [3:08:42] I would say that Memphis is a prime example, [3:08:44] and I have to give credit to the U.S. Marshal Service [3:08:46] that's leading that operation. [3:08:48] Homeland Security investigation agents are out there [3:08:50] every day with the men and women of Tennessee Highway Patrol [3:08:53] of Memphis Police Department, [3:08:54] and the reduction in crime has been significant. [3:08:57] But if you look across the country, almost at every state, [3:08:59] we do have cooperative jurisdictions. [3:09:02] Texas, Texas, we have outstanding cooperation. [3:09:04] You don't see any riots or anything like that. [3:09:06] You see side-by-side law enforcement working together [3:09:09] as it would be. [3:09:10] If you look at the state of Florida, state of Oklahoma, [3:09:12] state of Louisiana, all across the nation, we do have that. [3:09:15] And what it is is public safety. [3:09:19] Thank you. [3:09:20] Next, I want to commend the Trump administration [3:09:22] for locking down our southern border. [3:09:24] A year ago, it was a highway for illegal aliens [3:09:26] and illicit materials. [3:09:28] Today, it is secure and closed. [3:09:30] Commissioner Scott, as Congress [3:09:31] and the Trump administration enabled DHS to secure [3:09:34] the southern border, how are cartels [3:09:36] and other criminal organizations adapting [3:09:38] to effective border enforcement? [3:09:40] They're gonna continue to push back. [3:09:42] I think some of it is in these protests, [3:09:44] because if we can shut down interior enforcement, [3:09:47] that allows them to basically market their goods, [3:09:50] if you will, to smuggle people in. [3:09:51] And they need those people to be distractions, [3:09:54] because without it, they have to start digging [3:09:56] million-dollar tunnels. [3:09:58] Without it, they have to spend a bunch of money on drones, [3:10:00] which we're countering. [3:10:01] Without it, they have to go out into the ocean [3:10:03] where they stick out like a sore thumb, [3:10:05] because we're increasing our radars on the West Coast [3:10:07] and increasing our air coverage. [3:10:09] Basically, it affects their bottom line, [3:10:11] and it makes it harder and harder for them [3:10:13] to bring their poison and anybody that wants [3:10:15] to threaten this country that's willing to pay them here. [3:10:18] Thank you. [3:10:19] Mr. Chairman, I move to submit for the record [3:10:21] a list of DHS worst of the worst in Tennessee, [3:10:24] three quotes from Tennessee's seven sheriffs [3:10:26] supporting ICE and five news articles germane [3:10:28] to the hearing in Tennessee. [3:10:30] That's where I yield back. [3:10:31] Without objection, the gentleman yields back. [3:10:33] And I recognize the gentleman from Tennessee. [3:10:35] Texas, Mr. Green, for five minutes of questions. [3:10:38] Thank you, sorry, Mr. Chairman, can you hear me now? [3:10:46] The microphone right there. [3:10:52] Will you give me a moment to get a bit closer, please? [3:10:57] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I say it sincerely, [3:11:00] I believe this is a most valuable hearing, [3:11:03] and I'm honored that the ranking member [3:11:05] would be here with us to accommodate us, [3:11:08] as is the case with you. [3:11:11] Mr. Alliance, is it true that you have [3:11:15] a criminal justice degree, [3:11:17] a bachelor's degree in criminal justice? [3:11:21] Yes, sir, it is. [3:11:22] Is it also true that you have a master's degree [3:11:26] in criminal justice leadership? [3:11:28] Yes, sir, it is. [3:11:30] And would you, as a professional [3:11:32] with two degrees in criminal justice, [3:11:35] indicate to us that if an officer commits murder, [3:11:39] that that officer should be prosecuted? [3:11:42] Sir, any law enforcement misconduct [3:11:44] needs to be investigated and prosecuted. [3:11:46] Investigated and prosecuted. [3:11:48] And have you seen the widely published video [3:11:52] of the killing of Mr. Alex Preti? [3:11:59] Yes, sir. [3:12:01] And, sir, my assumption is that if I ask you [3:12:03] whether this was an injustice, [3:12:05] you would say you cannot comment [3:12:08] because of an ongoing investigation. [3:12:10] Is that a fair statement? [3:12:11] Yes, sir. [3:12:12] And what is the rationale for not responding [3:12:15] to an ongoing investigation? [3:12:18] Sir, I don't want to impede [3:12:20] or rigidize the investigation. [3:12:22] No, no, no, not this one, any. [3:12:24] Okay. [3:12:24] Any, as you're in your profession now. [3:12:27] But any investigation, what's the rationale? [3:12:29] Not this one, any. [3:12:30] Same for any investigation, sir. [3:12:32] I don't want to bias or put my finger [3:12:36] on the scale of any investigation. [3:12:38] You not. [3:12:39] What's the rationale for your not testifying [3:12:42] about it is my question. [3:12:45] I don't understand your question, sir. [3:12:47] What does the law say? [3:12:48] What is the rationale? [3:12:49] What harm would it do if you testified? [3:12:53] Because I don't have the full facts of the case yet, sir? [3:12:56] Exactly. [3:12:57] That's what I expected. [3:12:57] That's what I expected you to say. [3:12:58] You don't have the full facts. [3:12:59] Thank you. [3:13:00] And I assume you would agree with this, Mr. Scott. [3:13:02] Is this true? [3:13:03] Yes, sir. [3:13:03] And Mr. Edlow, you would agree? [3:13:06] I assume so. [3:13:07] I'm not a professional in law enforcement. [3:13:09] Well, but you're a professional person [3:13:11] with a degree of intellect, such as you can comment [3:13:13] on whether or not it was harm. [3:13:13] Well, I certainly would not comment on anything. [3:13:16] Not a specific case. [3:13:18] We're talking about now any case. [3:13:21] Would you agree that it would cause harm for you [3:13:23] to testify before there's an investigation? [3:13:26] Certainly, without having all the facts. [3:13:27] All right. [3:13:28] Surely you would agree. [3:13:29] Which brings us to Secretary Noem. [3:13:34] Secretary Noem accused Mr. Preti of brandishing a firearm [3:13:41] while wishing to inflict harm on the officers. [3:13:46] Secretary Noem. [3:13:49] Same rules that apply to you apply to Secretary Noem. [3:13:54] Accused this gentleman, Mr. Preti, [3:13:57] of brandishing a firearm. [3:14:05] Secretary Noem doing this when she did [3:14:11] without an investigation. [3:14:14] We have to agree that there's not [3:14:15] been an investigation. [3:14:15] I don't think I have to ask you that. [3:14:18] Not a complete investigation that we would know of, anyway. [3:14:20] She did it right afterwards. [3:14:22] Having done this, she is violating [3:14:25] this very basic principle that you have called [3:14:29] to our attention today. [3:14:32] And we have to ask ourselves, why would she go so far [3:14:35] as to say brandishing when he did not? [3:14:39] The video will clearly show it. [3:14:42] And she said wishing to inflict harm. [3:14:47] Did not inflict any harm. [3:14:51] But the secretary, without an investigation, [3:14:55] made these comments. [3:15:00] I'll tell you why. [3:15:02] The secretary was in a rush to cover up, [3:15:09] to make sure that she was protecting the officers [3:15:14] without regard for the life that was lost. [3:15:19] And in doing this, she was violating not only [3:15:25] this basic moral concept, she's breaking the law. [3:15:30] The secretary should be investigated right along [3:15:34] with those officers who are out there engaged in this ungodly, [3:15:39] unlawful conduct. [3:15:41] She should be investigated. [3:15:44] And in my opinion, based upon my observation, [3:15:48] secretary should not only be investigated, [3:15:51] the secretary should be prosecuted, [3:15:53] right along with those officers. [3:15:54] This man did not brandish. [3:15:57] This man was not armed. [3:15:59] This man did not attempt to hurt those officers. [3:16:03] They should all be prosecuted. [3:16:05] And you, persons associated with the Trump administration, [3:16:12] say lock her up. [3:16:13] I say lock her up. [3:16:14] The gentleman's time has expired. [3:16:16] I now recognize the ranked member for UCs. [3:16:19] That's correct, Mr. Chair. [3:16:21] Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent [3:16:24] to insert two statements for the record, [3:16:27] one submitted by the Refugee Council USA [3:16:31] and the other from the Baptist Joint Committee [3:16:35] on Religious Liberty. [3:16:36] Without objection. [3:16:38] Mr. Chairman, on behalf of Ms. Ramirez, [3:16:41] I ask unanimous consent to include in the record [3:16:45] three articles. [3:16:46] One, a Chicago Sun-Times article describing [3:16:50] how U.S. Border Patrol has separated a family. [3:16:56] Number two, an ABC7 Chicago article [3:17:00] that describes how ISIS warrantless arrest in Chicago [3:17:05] has been ruled unlawful by a federal judge. [3:17:09] And third, a ProPublica article documenting how immigration [3:17:16] agents [3:17:17] are using banned chokeholds and other moves [3:17:22] that can cut off breathing. [3:17:26] Without objection. [3:17:27] Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent [3:17:29] to insert in the record the following articles. [3:17:33] A CBS News article that states that, [3:17:36] contrary to the administration's claim, [3:17:39] only 14% of those arrested by ICE [3:17:43] had violent criminal records. [3:17:47] An NPR story about a DHS [3:17:49] memo that says ICE can enter people's home [3:17:54] without a judicial warrant, which has alarmed members [3:17:57] on both sides of the aisle. [3:18:00] An article from the Marshall Project that alleges [3:18:04] that there are thousands of kids in detention, [3:18:08] many for longer than the court prescribed limit. [3:18:12] An article from The Independent about a sick, [3:18:17] five-year-old Lame Ramos asking for his [3:18:21] mom in a detention center, which [3:18:24] rebutts testimony we heard today that ICE [3:18:28] was taking good care of him. [3:18:30] A report from the Center for Election Innovation [3:18:34] and Research updated this month that found [3:18:38] that non-citizen voting is rare, and allegations [3:18:42] of the practice are a result of misunderstandings [3:18:47] of fabrication. [3:18:48] An article from the AP, which highlights [3:18:52] that federal authorities are monitoring and tracking [3:18:55] individuals who criticize immigration enforcement [3:19:00] operation. [3:19:01] A report from the Brennan Center titled, [3:19:04] ICE wants to go after dissenters as well as immigrants. [3:19:09] A report from The Guardian that describes [3:19:12] the terrible condition in ICE facilities [3:19:16] and that ICE deny urgent medical care to a 10-year-old. [3:19:22] Without objection, I want to thank [3:19:24] the members or the witnesses for being here tonight [3:19:28] and all the members for their questions. [3:19:30] Members of the committee may have some additional questions [3:19:32] for the witnesses, and we ask that the witnesses [3:19:34] to respond to these in writing. [3:19:36] Pursuant to Committee Rule 7E, the hearing record [3:19:39] will be held open for 10 days. [3:19:41] I want to let the audience know that please still be seated [3:19:46] while the witnesses and their teams leave. [3:19:50] Without objection, this committee stands adjourned.