Executive Summary
- Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons confirmed 37 use-of-force investigations in the last year, with 19 cases still pending.
- The testimony follows the shooting of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers, prompting Senate inquiries.
- Senators questioned the reduction of the training curriculum for new recruits from 75 days to 42 days.
- Preliminary reviews contradicted earlier administration claims labeling the shooting victims as “domestic terrorists.”
Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday, disclosing that the agency conducted 37 investigations into officer use of force over the past year. The disclosure comes amid heightened scrutiny regarding agency tactics following recent incidents involving the shooting of U.S. citizens by immigration officers.
During the hearing, Lyons confirmed that of the 37 investigations initiated, 18 have been closed while 19 remain pending or have been referred for further examination. The Acting Director did not specify whether any of the concluded probes resulted in officer terminations. The testimony was delivered in response to inquiries from GOP Senator Rand Paul regarding the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis last month.
The hearing highlighted several specific cases of alleged misconduct. Officials acknowledged that Jonathan Ross, an ICE officer involved in the shooting of U.S. citizen Renee Macklin Good, was placed on administrative leave. Similarly, administrative measures were taken regarding Victor Mojica, who was accused of roughly pushing a woman in a New York immigration court hallway, and Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, who reportedly discharged a weapon at U.S. citizen Mariamar Martinez. It is important to note that all individuals named in these investigations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Significant legislative concern focused on the training duration for new agents. In an exchange with Senator Ruben Gallego, Lyons confirmed that the training curriculum at the federal law enforcement training center in Georgia had been shortened from 75 days to 42 days to accommodate recruitment goals. Lyons defended the truncated schedule, citing reliance on subsequent “on-the-job training” similar to local police models. Senator Gallego expressed concern that new recruits could be deployed with weapons after only six weeks of academy instruction.
Critics and former agency personnel told NPR that a lack of transparency regarding disciplinary practices is eroding trust in federal law enforcement. This concern is amplified by reports of workforce reductions within the Department of Homeland Security’s oversight divisions, specifically the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Additionally, testimony revealed that initial administration narratives labeling Pretti and Good as “domestic terrorists” were later contradicted by preliminary government reviews and witness evidence.
Legislative Oversight Implications
The revelation of these internal investigations highlights the ongoing operational tension between rapid federal workforce expansion and the maintenance of rigorous conduct standards. As ICE increases its ranks—doubling recent recruitment numbers to approximately 22,000 personnel—the reduction in academy training hours places a heavier burden on field supervision and internal oversight mechanisms. The Senate’s focus on these metrics suggests that future legislative funding or authorization could be increasingly tied to the demonstration of robust internal accountability protocols and transparent disciplinary outcomes.
