Key Takeaways
- •Witnesses committed to providing full investigation reports and findings to the committee regarding the recent deadly force incidents in Minnesota.
- •Commissioner Scott (Witness) asserted that the US border is the "most secure in our nation's history" due to Trump administration policies, citing record-low illegal crossings.
- •Rep. Swalwell (D-CA-14) pressed Acting Director Lyons (Witness) on ICE's conduct, asking if he would resign, to which Lyons firmly stated, "No, sir, I won't."
- •Republicans lauded the Trump administration's "most secure border" and increased deportations, while Democrats condemned DHS for alleged agent misconduct and lack of accountability for civilian deaths.
- •The hearing highlighted ongoing partisan battles over DHS funding, with Republicans warning of a shutdown and Democrats announcing bills to abolish ICE and impeach Secretary Noem.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
On February 10, 2026, the House Homeland Security Committee held a high-stakes oversight hearing titled “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security: ICE, CBP, and USCIS.” Led by Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-2), the hearing sought to assess the 2026 priorities for the three primary immigration components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The proceedings occurred against a backdrop of intense partisan friction following the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Preti, during federal immigration operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Chairman Garbarino opened the hearing by emphasizing the committee’s duty to ensure DHS components are enforcing the law effectively while maintaining public trust. He highlighted the impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill," a $65 billion reconciliation package that provided historic resources for border security. Garbarino cited data showing a 91 percent decrease in nationwide border encounters in December 2025 compared to the previous year and eight consecutive months of zero parole releases by the U.S. Border Patrol. He also addressed the violence in Minnesota, calling for impartial investigations while warning against "rushing to judgment" regarding law enforcement conduct.
Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2) offered a scathing counter-narrative, accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing DHS against American citizens. He focused heavily on the killings of Renee Good and Alex Preti, characterizing the operations as "lawless" and "reckless." Thompson criticized DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for allegedly gaslighting the public by labeling the victims as domestic terrorists. He further noted that 10 oversight letters from committee Democrats had gone unanswered and expressed outrage over ICE blocking members of Congress from visiting detention facilities.
Key Testimony
The witness testimony began with Rodney S. Scott, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Commissioner Scott testified that the border is currently the most secure in U.S. history due to the reinstatement of detention and removal authorities. He reported that Border Patrol apprehensions for the entire year totaled only 90,000, a figure that previously represented a single month. Scott also highlighted the seizure of 617,000 pounds of illicit narcotics, including 11,000 pounds of fentanyl. He detailed the deployment of "smart wall" technology and water barriers along the Rio Grande, funded by the $65 billion investment.
Overview
Joseph B. Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), focused on restoring "integrity and accountability" to the legal immigration system. He reported a 138 percent increase in fraud referrals, totaling 33,000 cases, and the completion of 21,000 investigations through the Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) team. Edlow highlighted "Operation Twin Shield" and "Operation Paris," which targeted marriage and refugee fraud in Minnesota. He also discussed the expansion of the SAVE program, used by 27 states to verify the citizenship of individuals on voter rolls.
Organizations & Entities
Todd M. Lyons, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), defended the agency’s "mass deportation" mandate. He reported nearly 379,000 arrests and 475,000 removals between January 2025 and January 2026. Lyons emphasized the dangers faced by his officers, citing an 8,000 percent increase in death threats and a 1,400 percent increase in assaults. He also detailed HSI’s efforts to locate missing unaccompanied alien children, stating that 145,000 children had been located since February 2025.
Overview
The hearing featured several contentious exchanges. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14) confronted Acting Director Lyons over previous comments comparing deportation to "Amazon Prime," asking how many times Amazon had shot a mother in the face. Lyons countered that his comments were taken out of context and that ICE does not "detain punitively." Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10) challenged the use of masks by ICE agents, comparing the tactics to "nefarious regimes" like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Lyons responded that masks were necessary due to doxxing and threats against agents' families.
Key Testimony
Republicans focused on the lack of cooperation from "sanctuary cities." Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX-10) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11) questioned the witnesses about the situation in Minneapolis. Lyons testified that local officials initially ordered a "stand down," leaving federal agents to defend themselves against coordinated groups like "Defend 612," which he alleged used Signal to coordinate interference with law enforcement. Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS-3) raised concerns about a potential government shutdown, with witnesses agreeing that a lapse in funding would make the nation less safe and disrupt the pay of 260,000 DHS employees.
Policy Proposals
Policy proposals discussed included the expansion of the 287(g) program, which Lyons noted had increased by 900 percent, and the establishment of the Homeland Security Task Force to combat transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). Director Edlow mentioned the rescission of the 2022 "public charge" rule and proposals to prioritize H-1B visas for higher-skilled, higher-paid workers to protect American jobs.
Overview
The hearing concluded with a focus on next steps regarding the Minnesota investigations. Chairman Garbarino secured commitments from Commissioner Scott and Acting Director Lyons to provide the committee with full, unabridged reports from the FBI, DOJ Civil Rights Division, and DHS internal investigations once they are finalized. Lyons also committed to the public release of body camera footage from the incidents to ensure transparency. While Republicans praised the administration's enforcement record, Democrats like Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13) called for the total abolition of ICE and the impeachment of Secretary Noem, signaling that the oversight of DHS will remain a central flashpoint in the 2026 legislative session.
Transcript
[Gavel sounds.] Committee on Homeland Security will come to order. Without objection, the chair may declare the committee in recess at any point. The purpose of today's hearing is to conduct oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and assess priorities for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for the calendar year 2026. Before we get started, I'd like to remind the members and the public of the rules of decorum. These issues we are debating are important ones that members feel deeply about. While vigorous disagreement is part of the legislative process, members are reminded that we must adhere to established standards of decorum in debate. It is a violation of House rules and the rules of this committee to engage in personalities regarding other members or to question the motives of a colleague. It is also a clear violation of the rules of the House to make statements that might personally be offensive to the president or the vice president of the United States. Remarks of that type are not permitted by the rules and are not in keeping with the best traditions of our committee. The chair will enforce these rules of decorum at all times and urges all members to be mindful of their remarks. Further, under the rules of the House, the chairman is responsible for maintaining order and preserving decorum in the committee room. I expect audience members to be respectful of the witnesses, members, and the public. If members of the audience are persistently or overly disruptive, it is a violation of federal law and you'll be subject to removal and arrest. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. I want to start by thanking our witnesses for appearing before the committee today. Today's hearing provides that the American people the ability to hear directly from the leaders that enforce our nation's immigration laws. It is our imperative as representatives of the people to be a voice for the people. Transparency, communication, and accountability are keys to good government. This is why oversight is important. Informing Congress and the public is not casting accusations, nor is it a punishment. Congress has a duty to hear directly from the executive branch, a duty I take seriously. And the executive branch has a duty to keep us informed. While this hearing was long planned, we sit here today in an inflection point. An opportunity to assess and reinforce the integrity of immigration enforcement and to strengthen public trust. An opportunity to emphasize and underscore the Department of Homeland Security's no-fail mission as a whole. My top priority as chairman is, and will always be, protecting America while ensuring the safety of law enforcement. This is further important in the context of another potential shutdown of the department. Let me be clear: shutting down DHS makes America less safe and negatively impacts thousands of federal employees like those at TSA and CISA. The Department of Homeland Security is the nation's largest federal law enforcement agency. It is this committee's duty, regardless of administration, to conduct oversight. We need to examine how DHS components are enforcing the law and ensure they have the resources in place to do work safely, effectively, and properly. Last year, we provided historic resources through reconciliation to strengthen public safety and support for the Trump administration's unprecedented efforts to secure the border. This was the single largest investment in the domestic homeland security mission. To succeed, we all need to work together seamlessly, and this committee is a partner in that effort. It is important to remember how we got here. For years, we witnessed a blanket refusal to enforce the law, wide-open borders, catch-and-release policies, and uncontrolled mass migration. These policies undermined the rule of law and endangered all Americans. Enforcing immigration law is not optional. The Trump administration's record on border security is irrefutable. Nationwide border encounters last December decreased 91 percent compared to 2023. Apprehensions between ports of entry last December decreased 86 percent compared to 2024. And we ended last year with eight consecutive months of zero parole releases by Border Patrol. Further, thousands of criminal illegal aliens have been detained and deported. These actions make America safer and more secure. But the credibility of these successes is on the line. We must take the temperature down and look at the record of enforcement actions through rational eyes. We've seen a significant increase in violent rhetoric and agitation. We've seen a significant increase in attacks on federal law enforcement and in the number of threats facing them and their families. This committee highlighted the threat increases to law enforcement at an earlier hearing. We have seen state and local jurisdictions refuse to protect federal law enforcement officers. And obviously, we have now seen the deaths of two American citizens in Minnesota. This is all unacceptable and preventable. The safety and law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect must always come first. When officials or elected leaders rush to conclusions about law enforcement or their fellow Americans, public trust suffers. There must be complete and impartial investigation. I expect each of our witnesses to keep this committee fully informed as the investigations run their course. And I will ensure this happens. While these investigations are ongoing, officials and elected leaders cannot rush to judgment. I cannot put myself in the shoes of law enforcement, nor can I imagine what the families of Ms. Good and Mr. Preti are enduring today. Public trust and public safety go hand in hand. We cannot have one without the other. I am encouraged to see that President Trump sent Border Czar Tom Homan and Commissioner Scott to Minnesota to work with Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and other local leaders. I sincerely hope this dialogue continues. This should stand as an example of cooperation to anyone who continues to incentivize reckless behavior in our streets, unlawfully impede law enforcement operations, or disparage their fellow citizens. State and local officials should be partners, not obstacles when it comes to public safety. And federal officials should keep in mind that this kind of partnership is a two-way street. Everyone should have the same goal of keeping America safe. Transparency and communication are needed now more than ever. The department's no-fail mission hangs in the balance. A rule-based order is not one-sided. Enforcing immigration law and defending all Americans' constitutional rights, including the rights to peacefully protest, bear arms, and privacy, are not mutually exclusive. I want to thank Secretary Noem for making these witnesses rapidly available and again thank the three of you for being here today. As Border Czar Homan recently said, you can't fix problems if you don't have discussions. I hope we can have a positive, civil, and productive discussion today. Only together can we make our community stronger and the homeland safer for future of all Americans. I now recognize the ranking member, the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson, for his opening statement.
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