ICE, CBP and USCIS Chiefs Testify on Enforcement Tactics After Minneapolis Protester Deaths

Top officials leading the federal immigration enforcement apparatus under President Donald Trump have been called before the U.S. Congress to testify about controversial immigration tactics after two protesters were fatally shot by federal officers during enforcement operations in Minneapolis. The hearing, held before the House Committee on Homeland Security, reflects growing scrutiny of the administration’s aggressive deportation strategy and its impact on both migrants and U.S. citizens.

Among those testifying were Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Rodney Scott, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They faced intense questioning from Democratic lawmakers over use‑of‑force policies, agent conduct, and federal tactics in cities across the country. Republicans on the panel largely defended the agencies’ roles in implementing Trump’s immigration agenda.

The hearing was triggered in part by public outrage after two Americans — Alex Pretti and Renee Good — were shot and killed in January by immigration enforcement officers during a demonstration in Minneapolis. Lawmakers demanded explanations for the circumstances of the deaths, including why force was used and how protests were handled, and pressed for accountability and potential reforms in how enforcement actions are executed.

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Lyons defended his agency’s operations, telling lawmakers federal officers would not be “intimidated” by public criticism and insisting their actions were lawful and necessary to carry out the president’s mass deportation directive. He also cited expanded arrests and removals over the past year as evidence of the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws.

Democratic committee members pressed for reforms aimed at greater transparency and civilian oversight, including calls for expanded use of body‑worn cameras, clearer rules on when force may be used, and limits on internal enforcement powers. Some members argued that unchecked immigration raids risk harming U.S. citizens and undermining constitutional protections.

The testimony comes at a critical time as Congress debates continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and whether conditions should be placed on how immigration enforcement is carried out. The hearing underscored deep partisan divides over national immigration policy, enforcement priorities, and the federal role in managing protests and public backlash in American cities.

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