Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons declared his agency will continue mass deportation operations despite mounting criticism and congressional oversight following fatal shootings of two American citizens by federal immigration personnel in Minneapolis.
Deportation Numbers and Congressional Testimony
During Tuesday’s House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Lyons reported ICE made 379,000 arrests in Trump’s first year back in office. The arrests included 7,000 suspected gang members and more than 14,000 individuals designated as known or suspected terrorists. Federal data shows most arrested individuals lack criminal convictions. Lyons emphasized the administration’s commitment to fulfilling President Trump’s mass deportation mandate despite facing what he called the deadliest operating environment in ICE history.
The ICE director revealed officers face regular assaults and death threats, with his own family becoming targets. He delivered a stern warning to critics, stating that intimidation tactics would fail. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and Customs and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow joined Lyons for the bipartisan hearing, marking their first congressional appearance during Trump’s second presidential term.
Minneapolis Controversy and Body Camera Deployment
The hearing addressed the recent fatal shootings of Americans Alex Pretti and Renée Good by federal immigration personnel in Minneapolis. These incidents sparked public backlash and bipartisan demands for independent investigations. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced criticism for prematurely characterizing one shooting victim as a domestic terrorist despite contradictory witness video evidence. The Trump administration withdrew 700 federal officers from Minneapolis following the controversy, though tensions persist between local and federal authorities.
Training and Equipment Changes
Lyons announced expanded body camera deployment, with 3,000 of ICE’s 13,000 field officers currently equipped and 6,000 additional cameras being distributed. Scott reported that 10,000 of 20,000 Border Patrol agents have cameras, with numbers continuing to grow. ICE modified officer training schedules from five eight-hour days to six twelve-hour days to accelerate field deployment while maintaining core curriculum standards. Border Patrol agents still complete the standard 117-day academy, while CBP officers attend 103-day programs. Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino criticized rushing to judgment about law enforcement actions before completing impartial investigations.