Immigration officials grilled over U.S. citizen deaths during oversight hearing

WASHINGTON — The leaders of the companies implementing President Trump’s immigration crackdown confronted powerful questioning on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with one Democratic lawmaker asking the pinnacle of ICE if he would apologize to the households of two U.S. residents killed by federal brokers and known as home terrorists by Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem.

Todd Lyons, performing head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declined to apologize to the households of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in the course of the listening to however mentioned he welcomed the chance to talk to Good’s household in non-public.

“I’m not going to talk to any ongoing investigation,” Lyons mentioned.

For the primary time for the reason that federal operation in Minneapolis led to the deaths of Good and Pretti, the heads of three immigration companies testified earlier than the Home Homeland Safety Committee.

Together with Lyons, the opposite witnesses had been Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers, and Rodney Scott, commissioner of Customs and Border Safety. Their companies fall underneath the Division of Homeland Safety.

Democrats and a few Republicans have known as for elevated oversight of the Trump administration’s immigration operations for the reason that shootings final month of Good and Pretti, each 37, by federal brokers.

Within the aftermath of the shootings, the administration changed Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official who led the cost in Minneapolis, with border coverage advisor Tom Homan, a former ICE official. Officers additionally withdrew some brokers and started requiring these in Minneapolis to put on physique cameras.

“We should take the temperature down and take a look at the file of enforcement actions by way of rational eyes,” mentioned the committee’s chair, Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.).

Garbarino requested for dedication from the ICE and CBP leaders to provide the committee the total experiences and findings of the investigations into the shootings of Good and Pretti as soon as these conclude. Scott and Lyons agreed.

Scott, the CBP commissioner, advised the committee members that officers face an unprecedented improve in assaults by individuals who intervene with legislation enforcement motion. He mentioned these actions are “coordinated and well-funded.”

“This isn’t peaceable protest,” he mentioned.

Lyons, the ICE chief, advised lawmakers that his company has eliminated greater than 475,000 individuals from the U.S. and carried out almost 379,000 arrests since President Trump returned to the White Home. He mentioned the company has employed greater than 12,000 officers and brokers.

He condemned so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, which restrict the collaboration between native legislation enforcement and ICE, in addition to the rhetoric from public officers in opposition to ICE.

Lyons testified that 3,000 out of 13,000 ICE brokers put on physique cameras. Scott estimated that about 10,000 of 20,000 Border Patrol brokers put on cameras, including that “we’re constructing that program out.”

The company heads confronted intense questioning from Democrats on the committee, together with these from California.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) requested Lyons about his remark final yr that the deportation course of ought to work “like Amazon Prime, however with human beings.”

Lyons mentioned the remark had been taken out of context.

“I did say that we must be extra environment friendly relating to eradicating people from the US, as a result of ICE doesn’t detain individuals punitively — we detain to take away,” he mentioned. “I don’t need to see individuals in custody.”

“Effectively, talking of human beings, what number of instances has Amazon Prime shot a nurse 10 instances within the again?” Swalwell responded.

Swalwell requested what number of brokers have been fired for his or her conduct underneath Lyons’ management. Lyons mentioned he would get that information.

“Are you able to inform us if, not less than — God, I hope not less than one individual has been fired for his or her conduct since these operations have begun,” Swalwell mentioned.

Lyons mentioned he wouldn’t discuss personnel.

Swalwell was the one who requested Lyons if he would apologize to the households of Good and Pretti. He additionally requested if Lyons would resign from ICE. Lyons declined.

Rep. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) questioned Lyons about whether or not carrying a U.S. passport is sufficient for individuals to keep away from being detained or deported. An October report by ProPublica recognized greater than 170 situations of U.S. residents who had been detained at raids or protests.

Lyons mentioned U.S. residents shouldn’t really feel the necessity to carry their passports.

“No American citizen will likely be arrested for being an American citizen,” Lyons mentioned.

Correa mentioned plenty of U.S. residents in his district, which is majority Latino, have been detained, some for a number of days.

Lyons mentioned he wasn’t conscious of any instances of detained Americans.

“Are you surveilling U.S. residents at present?” Correa requested.

Lyons mentioned there isn’t any database for protesters.

“I can guarantee you there isn’t any database that’s monitoring down residents,” he mentioned.

This can be a creating story and will likely be up to date.