Top US immigration officials faced intense congressional scrutiny over Trump’s mass deportation push and fatal protest shootings in Minneapolis.
WASHINGTON: The heads of US immigration agencies faced a barrage of criticism in Congress on Tuesday as they defended President Donald Trump’s mass deportation drive.
They also fielded tough questions about the fatal shootings of two protesters in Minneapolis during recent federal operations.
“The president tasked us with mass deportation, and we are fulfilling that mandate,” acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) head Todd Lyons said in his opening remarks.
He testified alongside Customs and Border Protection (CBP) chief Rodney Scott and Citizenship and Immigration Services director Joseph Edlow.
Democratic lawmakers accused the administration of disregarding the law and the Constitution during the oversight hearing for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“This administration and the agencies represented before us have shown a complete and utter disregard for the law and the Constitution,” Democratic Representative Tim Kennedy said.
Republican representatives largely defended the major crackdown on migrants occurring in multiple US cities.
Representative Eli Crane pushed back on the criticism, accusing Democrats of seeking to “demonize ICE and Homeland Security.”
CBP chief Scott hailed efforts on the southern US frontier, saying his agency spent the last year rebuilding what was an intentionally broken border.
He stated the United States now enjoys the most secure border in its history.
The hearing followed Trump’s acknowledgement that a softer touch may be needed on immigration after the Minneapolis killings.
His administration announced concessions including the withdrawal of hundreds of officers from the Midwestern city.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said on Tuesday he expects the crackdown to end soon.
“We’re very much in a ‘trust but verify’ mode. But it’s my expectation… that we are talking days, not weeks and months, of this occupation,” Walz said.
The operations have sparked mass protests and led to the fatal shootings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti less than three weeks apart last month.
When asked if he would apologise to the families over the administration’s initial description of the victims as domestic terrorists, Lyons declined.
He said he would not comment on active investigations.
Democratic leaders in Congress are threatening to block the 2026 funding bill for DHS unless sweeping reforms to ICE operations are made.
These reforms include ending mobile patrols and requiring warrants for operations.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called a White House counterproposal incomplete and insufficient.
They said it failed to address concerns about ICE’s lawless conduct and are awaiting further details.
If negotiations fail, DHS could face a funding shortfall starting Saturday.
While CBP and ICE could continue using funds approved last year, other sub-agencies like federal disaster organisation FEMA could be affected.