WASHINGTON — Democrats on Tuesday slammed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration officials over aggressive enforcement tactics, as the department’s top leadership appeared before Congress for the first time this year.
The hearing comes as DHS funding is set to expire this weekend, marking the end of a two-week continuing resolution. If Congress fails to pass legislation to fund the department by Friday night, it could trigger another partial government shutdown. Republicans warned that such a shutdown would halt essential DHS operations, a move they said would “make America less safe.”
Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., played a video showing federal agents spraying pepper spray into the car of a family in a grocery store parking lot.
When asked whether any of the agents involved were investigated or disciplined, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said he would look into the matter.
“You are supposed to be making people safer, and instead your agents are being unnecessarily violent,” Magaziner said. “That is why the Trump administration has lost the trust of the American people on immigration. Understand it’s not just the actions of the agents in the field, it is the lack of accountability from the top that has caused public trust to erode.”
Magaziner emphasized the need for “major reforms” as part of a funding agreement, including enforcing discipline with “real standards of conduct” and requiring federal agents to remove their masks and wear badge numbers. He also asserted that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem should be removed from office.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., echoed Magaziner’s criticisms, condemning Homeland Security leaders in the room over their agencies’ actions. She cited the case of her constituent, a 14-year-old boy with autism seeking asylum who has been detained for 60 days after being taken into custody with his father.
“Let me ask you this: What kind of agency would strip asylum protections from children, even those with pending asylum claims, and deport minors without due process?” Ramirez asked, addressing Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Joseph Edlow. “You don’t have to answer that. It’s your agency, Mr. Edlow.”
Ramirez’s remarks went beyond her colleagues’ calls for reform.
“I’m going to say it loud and clear, and I’m proud to stand by what I say,” Ramirez said. “DHS cannot be reformed. It must be dismantled, and something new must take its place.”
Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., stressed the vitality of immigration law enforcement, attributing the immigration “crisis” to the Biden administration’s border policies.
Citing deportation figures from past administrations, Crane claimed that although previous presidents deported “far more people,” riots only began under Trump’s presidency. Scott attributed this to “misleading” rhetoric surrounding the role of border security and immigration enforcement in America.
Crane also questioned the rise of sanctuary cities, jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. He compared efforts to support immigrants and mourn protesters with a lack of similar outcry following the deaths of Americans killed by undocumented immigrants, including Nate Baker and Laken Riley.
“Why do the Democrats care more about illegal alien criminals than they care about these American citizens, many of them who are young, have their entire lives ahead of them and didn’t show up to a protest to obstruct federal law enforcement?” Crane asked.
Rep. Brad Knott, R-N.C., said Democrats invoke diversity to excuse lawlessness, an approach he called “naive and dangerous.” He added that while lawmakers do not oppose diversity, they object to open border policies that threaten law and order.
Knott furthered Crane’s criticism of sanctuary cities, chastising them for choosing to release individuals accused of violent crimes rather than transfer them to federal authorities.
“Sanctuary policies are not just a passive relinquishing effort, it’s an active obstruction,” Knott said.
The hearing grew heated as House Democrats continued to press DHS leaders, including Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., who confronted ICE director Todd Lyons about whether he believed he was “going to hell” for ICE’s actions in Minnesota. Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., called for order, urging members to adhere to standards of decorum and debate.