‘Going to hell’: ICE in hot seat over Minnesota deaths

They largely refused to answer questions about the shooting deaths, citing ongoing investigations. That deprived lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee of new substance, leaving only the theatrics.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the panel, called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a “scourge on this country” and labeled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who did not testify, a “liar with no concern for the lives of Americans killed by the department she runs.”

Rep. Delia Ramirez, Illinois Democrat, said the agency chiefs had “used your power to perpetrate great evil.”

Rep. Daniel Goldman, New York Democrat, criticized ICE agents’ use of masks. He said none of the law enforcement officers he worked with during his time as a prosecutor on major criminal cases needed masks.

“If you don’t want to be called a fascist regime or secret police, then stop acting like one,” he said.

Ms. McIver, who had a run-in with ICE last year that led to her facing charges of assault on federal law enforcement officers, took things the furthest, suggesting eternal damnation for Mr. Lyons.

When committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino, New York Republican, scolded her, she was unrepentant.

“I’m just asking a question,” the congresswoman replied. “You’re always talking about religion here.”

Mr. Lyons declined to answer Ms. McIver’s challenge.

Congress is barreling toward a government shutdown for the Homeland Security Department. Democrats have said they won’t pass a new bill to fund the department without a list of reforms to the way immigration operations are carried out.

ICE has enough money to keep operating, thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, but a shutdown would affect other Homeland Security agencies, such as the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Republicans on Tuesday largely defended the Homeland Security Department and accused Democrats of backing sanctuary jurisdictions, which protect illegal immigrants with criminal entanglements from being turned over to ICE.

Still, some dissonant notes were sounded.

One Republican worried about ICE’s new policy allowing entry into homes to arrest a deportation target based solely on an administrative warrant. Mr. Garbarino seemed to jab at senior department officials who, in the wake of the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, claimed they were domestic terrorists.

“Officials and elected leaders should not rush to judgment,” Mr. Garbarino said. “Public trust and public safety go hand in hand.”

The hearing reflected the deep divide across the country.

Rep. Lou Correa, California Democrat, said more than 70% of people arrested by ICE don’t even have a traffic ticket.

Mr. Lyons countered with statistics indicating that about 60% of detainees arrested by ICE have convictions or pending criminal charges.

Mr. Lyons also said his officers have seen a 1,400% increase in assaults over the past year, compared with a year earlier, under the Biden administration.

Mr. Goldman challenged that. He said media reviews of court records last year show a 25% increase in actual assault cases filed by federal prosecutors.

Democrats repeatedly cited the case of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old who became prominent after his father’s arrest in Minnesota left him stranded and in the care of ICE officers. The agency’s critics said ICE officers were detaining the boy and tried to use him as bait to arrest his mother.

Mr. Lyons said the father ran off, leaving Liam stranded, and ICE officers watched over the frightened boy, took him to their vehicle, played videos to occupy him, and even took him to McDonald’s for a snack.

“Law enforcement took care of the child after the father abandoned him,” Mr. Lyons said.

He flatly rejected accusations that ICE is targeting U.S. citizens — “We don’t walk around on the streets asking people about their American citizenship” — and rebuffed claims that the agency is building a database to track protesters.

“There is no database of protesters, sir,” Mr. Lyons told Mr. Correa. He later added, “I can assure you there is no database that’s tracking United States citizens.”

Democrats countered with video and images of tense encounters.

In one video, a Border Patrol agent appeared to blast pepper spray in the face of a man being wrestled to the ground by several other agents.

Rep. Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island Democrat, said that was excessive force.

“He was already pinned to the ground by three other agents,” the congressman said.

“The subject was clearly not compliant,” countered Rodney Scott, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.

Although the officials declined to talk about the deaths of Pretti and Good, they said the situation escalated in Minnesota because local authorities refused to assist in controlling unruly protesters.

Without that assistance, Homeland Security had to deploy additional manpower to the region to protect officers attempting to make arrests.

Mr. Scott said the Department of Homeland Security has carried out similar enforcement surges in other places without the same level of high-profile resistance or backlash. He blamed “paid agitators” for stirring dissent in Minneapolis.

“Without that, you wouldn’t even have an idea most of these arrests are taking place,” Mr. Scott said.

Mr. Lyons said the situation in Minneapolis has calmed in recent days because local authorities are now responding to help control crowds.