Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
President Donald Trump’s top immigration officials appeared before Congress on Tuesday for the first time since the fatal shootings of two American citizens in Minneapolis, seeking to defend their agencies’ actions as lawmakers pressed them over accountability, transparency and the scope of nationwide immigration enforcement operations.
Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, faced some of the sharpest questioning during a more than three-hour hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee. He testified alongside Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow.
The hearing came as the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign continues to draw mounting criticism from Democrats, civil rights groups and some local officials, particularly following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during encounters involving federal immigration officers in Minnesota.
Officials decline to discuss Minneapolis shootings
Lyons and Scott repeatedly declined to answer lawmakers’ questions about the Minneapolis shootings, citing ongoing investigations.
Pressed by Democrats to apologize for comments by Trump administration officials who initially described Good as an agitator, Lyons refused.
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the family in private,” Lyons said. “But I’m not going to comment on any active investigation.”
Lyons acknowledged that he had reviewed video footage of Pretti’s shooting but again declined to elaborate, citing the same reason.
Masked officers draw sharp partisan divide
Democrats accused federal immigration officers who wear masks during operations of undermining public trust and accountability. Republicans countered that officers need anonymity to protect themselves and their families from harassment and doxing.
Asked whether he would require officers to remove their masks and wear clearly identifiable uniforms and badges, Lyons responded bluntly: “No.”
Lyons said he supports officers who believe face coverings are necessary for personal safety.
Body cameras expanding, footage to be released
Lyons and Scott said thousands of immigration officers are already equipped with body cameras, with more deployments planned.
Lyons said body camera footage from the Minneapolis incident would be released publicly.
“That’s one thing that I’m committed to is full transparency,” Lyons said. “And I fully welcome body cameras all across the spectrum in all of our law enforcement activities.”
ICE denies child was used as “bait”
Lawmakers also questioned Lyons about the detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose arrest — while wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack — sparked outrage after allegations that the child was used to lure his parents out of their home.
The boy and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, an Ecuadorian national, were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on Jan. 20.
Lyons denied those claims.
“He was obviously upset. We comforted him,” Lyons said. “The officers actually placed him in one of our vehicles, played his favorite song, favorite music. Then they took him to McDonald’s.”
DHS funding lapse could hurt security, officials warn
The hearing unfolded as Congress faces a looming funding deadline that would trigger a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security if no agreement is reached.
Democrats have threatened to block DHS funding unless additional limits are placed on ICE and other agencies enforcing Trump’s immigration agenda.
Republican Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi asked whether a shutdown would endanger national security. All three officials said it would.
“It will have a great impact,” Lyons said, warning that a lapse would disrupt task forces targeting transnational crime and terrorism.
ICE operations during World Cup questioned
Lawmakers also asked whether ICE would pause enforcement operations during this year’s FIFA World Cup amid concerns from international visitors.
Lyons declined to commit to any pause.
“ICE is dedicated to ensuring that everyone that visits the facilities will have a safe and secure event,” he said.
Officials deny role in guarding elections
With Trump having suggested federal involvement in elections, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the committee’s ranking Democrat, asked whether immigration agencies had been directed to assist with guarding voting precincts ahead of the midterm elections.
“You’ve not been asked to start deploying people for areas anywhere?” Thompson asked.
Lyons and Scott both replied: “No, sir.”
