WASHINGTON (AP) — The heads of the agencies implementing President Trump's mass deportation policies will face Congress on Tuesday, focusing on immigration enforcement tactics used in American cities.
The Trump administration's immigration initiatives have faced increased scrutiny, especially in light of the recent shooting deaths of protesters in Minneapolis by Homeland Security personnel. Critics argue that these enforcement policies violate the rights of immigrants and stifle dissent among U.S. citizens.
Key officials including Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Rodney Scott of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Joseph Edlow from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will testify before the House Committee on Homeland Security.
These hearings occur at a time when public support for their approach has diminished, amid ongoing controversies and the allocation of substantial funding from a recent spending bill that has expanded immigration enforcement efforts nationwide.
Officials claim that activists are instigating aggression against their staff while asserting that their enforcement strategies are essential for national safety by removing individuals with criminal backgrounds or those seen as security threats.
Congress is expected to scrutinize Lyons regarding a controversial memo he signed, which permits ICE agents to enter homes without a judge’s warrant — a significant shift from standard practices and potentially in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Similar controversies surround Scott's agency, which has reportedly shifted focus from border security to operations in urban areas. This shift has been contentious, raising accusations of unjust arrests and profiling of individuals suspected of being undocumented. Scott maintains that arrests are based on intelligence and justified force.
The tension reached a peak with the recent shooting in Minneapolis, where aggressive policing tactics have sparked indignation, prompting calls for greater accountability. As Congress deliberates on potential funding limitations for the Department of Homeland Security, the actions of these agencies remain at the forefront of public debate.
USCIS, too, is in the line of fire, facing backlash for additional vetting processes of already admitted refugees and delays in asylum adjudications, highlighting broader concerns regarding the administration's immigration policies.
