Things Got Heated at ICE Hearing in Congress

'If you don't want to be called a fascist regime or secret police, then stop acting like one,' says Rep. Dan Goldman
Posted Feb 10, 2026 2:11 PM CST
ICE Director Clashes With Democrats Over Tactics
From left, Rodney Scott, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection; Joseph Edlow, director of Citizenship and Immigration Services; and Todd Lyons, acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, are sworn in during a House hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.   (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

Three men responsible for carrying out President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration testified before a House committee on Tuesday, and things sometimes got heated with Democratic lawmakers. The three were Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Rodney Scott, head of Customs and Border Protection; and Joseph Edlow, director of Citizenship and Immigration Services. All appeared before the House Committee on Homeland Security. Some highlights:

  • After Lyons complained that Democratic lawmakers were comparing ICE to the Gestapo, Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of New York replied: "I have a simple suggestion: If you don't want to be called a fascist regime or secret police, then stop acting like one," reports the Washington Post.

  • At another point, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell asked Lyons to apologize to the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by agents, but he declined to do so, reports Politico. "Is she a domestic terrorist?" asked Swalwell of Good. "I welcome the opportunity to speak to the family in private, but I'm not going to comment on any active investigation," responded Lyons. He and Scott declined to answer questions about the deaths throughout the hearing, per the New York Times.
  • Republicans largely defended the administration, crediting it with cutting unlawful border crossings, though Committee Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino appeared to issue a veiled criticism of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. DHS officials, he said, have been too quick to rush to conclusions about "their fellow Americans" without a proper investigation. "Officials and elected leaders should not rush to judgment," Garbarino said. "Public trust and public safety go hand in hand."
  • The hearing unfolded as a possible Homeland Security shutdown looms this weekend and Democrats seek new limits on federal immigration agents in exchange for funding, per the AP.

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