The heads of key immigration enforcement agencies in the United States faced intense scrutiny during a congressional hearing on March 12, 2024. The session, held by the House Committee on Homeland Security, focused on the controversial immigration enforcement practices under President Donald Trump. Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, and Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow were called to provide answers following recent incidents that have raised significant public concern.
The agencies have been criticized for their aggressive enforcement actions, particularly following the deaths of protesters Alex Pretti and Renee Good during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. As public support for these measures wanes, Democratic lawmakers are pushing for new limits on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure compliance with legal and constitutional standards. Lawmakers have even threatened to shut down the DHS unless an agreement is reached by Friday night.
During the hearing, Andrew Garbarino, the committee chairman, described the situation as an “inflection point” for immigration policy. He urged members to avoid making negative comments about the president or Vice President JD Vance. Garbarino’s remarks reflected the growing divide within Congress regarding immigration enforcement, especially in light of the tragic deaths of Pretti and Good, which he termed “unacceptable and preventable.”
Congressman Bennie Thompson expressed outrage at the DHS’s handling of the situation, stating that both the agency and its secretary, Kristi Noem, should be held accountable. Thompson displayed photographs of the deceased protesters and called for a moment of silence in their memory. He also criticized the agency’s lack of transparency, citing restrictions on congressional visits to detention facilities.
In response to the criticism, Todd Lyons maintained that ICE would not be deterred from its mission despite public intimidation. He revealed that his agency conducted 379,000 arrests and removed over 475,000 individuals from the country in 2025. “The president tasked us with mass deportation, and we are fulfilling that mandate,” he stated. Lyons attributed the agency’s operational capabilities to substantial funding provided by Congress, which allows for increased detentions and removal flights.
The hearing included pointed exchanges, particularly when Lyons was confronted by Congressman Eric Swalwell, who demanded his resignation. Lyons remained firm in his position and did not apologize to the families of the deceased protesters. Tensions escalated further when Congressman Dan Goldman compared masked ICE agents to secret police in totalitarian regimes. Goldman criticized the agency’s practices and questioned the rationale behind officers wearing masks during operations.
Democratic representatives frequently addressed the issue of ICE officers operating masked, prompting questions about accountability and transparency. Congressman Tim Kennedy specifically asked Lyons if he would require his officers to wear identifiable uniforms instead of masks. Lyons’ response was simply, “No,” which Kennedy labeled a “sad response,” arguing that those confident in their work should not conceal their identities.
In a related legal development, a federal judge recently blocked part of a California law that sought to ban federal immigration agents from wearing masks. Judge Christina Snyder ruled that while federal officers can perform their duties without masks, they must display clear identification. This ruling underscores the ongoing tensions between state and federal law enforcement practices.
As the hearing concluded, the future of immigration enforcement and the policies implemented under the Trump administration remain a contentious topic. The testimonies provided by the agency leaders reflect the complex dynamics at play as lawmakers grapple with the implications of aggressive immigration tactics and their effects on communities across the nation.
