Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger
Feb 11, 2026, 5:08 p.mFeb 11, 2026, 5:08 p.m
In the dispute over the future funding of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), members of the US Parliament cross-examined the heads of the Border Patrol and two immigration authorities. In a hearing in the House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans engaged in a heated exchange over the authorities’ controversial operations against migrants.
Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger
The focus was on the question of whether long-term financing could still exist without stricter rules and independent control by the authorities. Transitional funding for the ministry ends next Friday.
The background is the controversial operations of officials from the immigration authority ICE and federal border guards. The fatal shooting of two US citizens in particular led to public protests and resistance in Parliament to longer funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats only want to support this if Republicans support reforms that impose strict rules on ICE officers in their controversial operations.
DHS witnesses defend actions
The director of the US immigration agency ICE, Todd Lyons, defended the line of the administration of US President Donald Trump. On the one hand he spoke of “targeted operations” against criminals, but on the other hand of around 7,000 suspected gang members and 1,400 suspected terrorists with a total of 379,000 arrests.
But if local authorities don’t cooperate with ICE, Lyons said, they’re forced to resort more often to the streets instead of prisons or detention centers and to deploy more officers. Escalating rhetoric about the operations is also increasing the number of death threats and attacks against officials.
The head of the US Border Protection CBP, Rodney Scott, and the head of the civil immigration authority USCIS, Joseph Edlow, made similar statements. Scott wants to present the reports on the fatal incidents in Minnesota to the committee after the investigation is complete.
Democrats demand innovation
During the hearing, Democrats accused the authorities of a lack of accountability and brutal, non-compliant actions against migrants and US citizens. MPs criticized masked operations and called for identification through uniforms and clearly visible badges.
Some lawmakers called for an end to ICE and the resignation of DHS chief Kristi Noem. ICE Director Lyons was also asked directly if he planned to resign, to which he replied no.
Many MPs confronted the three people responsible with examples from specific situations and operations that were captured on video and are circulating on social media, or demanded information about them. Practically none of these questions have been answered with reference to ongoing investigations. Lyons, Edlow and Scott also rejected most of the criticism.
ICE Director Lyons refused to say anything several times – because of ongoing investigations.Image: screenshot Reuters / COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY
The ICE director also expressed his sympathy for Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, the two US citizens killed by Homeland Security employees. The loss of any life is unacceptable, Lyons said. He himself has also suffered a loss.
Republicans blame cities and protests
In contrast to the Democrats, the Republicans stood united on the side of the border protection and immigration authorities and saw responsibility for violence and chaos primarily in democratically governed cities that did not fully cooperate with ICE and in “left-wing” rhetoric.
Several MPs also pushed for the obstruction of operations through protests to be pursued more harshly and for the relevant municipalities to be put under financial pressure. (lzo with material from sda/dpa)
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