Leaders from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) justified their enforcement methods before Congress during the first oversight session following the fatal Minneapolis shootings. This occurred alongside a wider budget dispute and increasing examination of federal immigration activities.

On Tuesday, ICE Acting Chief Todd Lyons, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow gave testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee, where Democratic members advocated for wide-ranging changes.

The three agency heads are also scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on February 12. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who supervises all three agencies, is anticipated to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3.

The following are five key points that emerged from the hearing for both lawmakers and the public.

Shorter training timelines for new agents

Democratic lawmakers questioned Lyons extensively on the length of training for ICE agents, especially as the agency has accelerated its hiring efforts. Lyons stated that individuals with no prior law enforcement background receive three months of training. Those who already have experience now finish a condensed program of only 47 days at a federal training center. The agency noted that training to become a deportation officer traditionally required over four months to complete.

Lyons also informed the committee that agents receive instruction in “defensive tactics and personal safety,” in addition to constitutional rights, laws, and protections, prior to their field deployment.

Commissioner Scott indicated that CBP officer training schedules have not been altered. According to Scott, Border Patrol agents generally undergo 117 days of academy training, while CBP officers complete 103 days.

Most agents still do not have body cameras

The requirement for ICE agents to wear body cameras has become a primary objective for Democrats seeking agency reform. Under questioning from the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Lyons revealed that approximately 3,000 of the 13,000 ICE agents are currently using body cameras in the field, with an additional 6,000 units in the process of being distributed. Lyons affirmed that all body camera footage from ICE agents would be made public.

Scott reported that roughly 10,000 out of 67,000 CBP agents have body cameras, stating that increased funding is necessary for CBP to achieve greater transparency—a point contested by some Democrats.

“Significant reforms must be implemented before we approve additional funding for your agencies,” stated Rep. Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island. “Your organizations must operate with the same standards as other law enforcement bodies.”

ICE denies US citizens are under surveillance

The issue of ICE monitoring American citizens was also brought up during the proceedings. Multiple reports have suggested that individuals have been placed on watchlists maintained by the DHS and FBI to monitor those classified as “domestic terrorists” during a nationwide crackdown on protesters.

Lyons refuted the existence of any database that tracks US citizens. When questioned about a social media post where an ICE agent in Maine threatened to add an observer to a “nice little database,” Lyons responded that he could not comment on behalf of that specific individual.

ICE chief rules out resignation

Challenged by Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, who presented a photograph of 5-year-old Liam Ramos, a child who was killed by ICE in Minnesota, Lyons stated he would not step down. He repeated the agency’s stance that Ramos’s father had “abandoned” the boy.

Both Lyons and Scott avoided answering questions related to the deaths of Good and Pretti throughout the hearing, pointing to ongoing investigations. They also refused to disclose the number of CBP or ICE agents who have been terminated or dismissed due to misconduct.

Republicans increasingly receptive to Democrats’ demands

The hearing took place as DHS funding discussions were ongoing between the White House and Democrats. It is still uncertain whether core Democratic demands, such as prohibiting agents from wearing masks and requiring a judicial warrant to enter private property, will be included in the final legislation.

However, some Republicans, such as former Homeland Security Committee chairman McCaul, supported several of the reform demands put forward by Democrats. These included equipping agents with body cameras, mandating warrants for entering private property, and eliminating roving patrols.

“Roving patrols belong at the border, not in our major metropolitan areas,” he remarked during the hearing.