The hearing room on Capitol Hill felt less like oversight and more like a reckoning.
For the first time since two U.S. citizens were fatally shot during federal immigration operations in Minneapolis, senior officials from the country’s top immigration agencies sat before lawmakers and faced blistering questions about the administration’s hardline crackdown.
Democrats zeroed in on the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, pressing officials over enforcement tactics that have expanded dramatically in recent months. The Minnesota shootings — which followed an intensified sweep in the city — have become a flashpoint in an already combustible debate over mass deportations and the scope of federal power.
In the weeks after the killings, demonstrations spread, funding talks for the Department of Homeland Security stalled, and scrutiny of Immigration and Customs Enforcement deepened. Democratic lawmakers accused the administration of fueling chaos with aggressive operations that, they argue, have swept up families and people with no criminal records alongside targeted offenders.
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee called for a full and impartial investigation into the Minnesota incidents, urging patience as inquiries unfold. His tone marked a shift from earlier characterizations by some administration officials, who initially portrayed the two citizens as threats — assertions later challenged by video footage.
The committee’s top Democrat was far less measured. He accused the department of losing control of its mandate and renewed calls for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to step down, saying the department must answer for what he described as grave consequences of its enforcement strategy.
At the witness table, the acting head of ICE, the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, and the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services stood firm. They defended the administration’s approach, pointing to increased border controls, expanded vetting procedures, and what they described as rising threats to officers in the field.
ICE’s acting director insisted that officers would continue carrying out deportation operations despite mounting protests and public backlash. “We are only getting started,” he said, framing the crackdown as a matter of enforcing the law and protecting national security.
Congress last year approved a sweeping funding package allocating $170 billion for immigration enforcement agencies through 2029 — a historic boost that dwarfs prior annual budgets. Supporters argue the investment strengthens border security and restores order. Critics say it supercharges an enforcement apparatus that lacks sufficient guardrails.
The partisan divide sharpened as the hearing wore on.
Some Democrats openly called for abolishing ICE, arguing that the agency’s tactics have eroded trust and endangered citizens. Republicans countered by pointing to record levels of illegal immigration under the previous administration, accusing Democratic-led cities and states of undermining federal enforcement.
One pointed exchange centered on allegations that ICE officers have been compiling information on protesters. A Democratic lawmaker referenced reports and video suggesting officers threatened to place critics into a “database.” The ICE chief denied maintaining any database tracking U.S. citizens for protest activity, while acknowledging the agency monitors threats to personnel.
Another lawmaker played footage of a border agent deploying pepper spray toward a Chicago father and his infant daughter during a prior encounter. The border chief responded that such action would not align with proper procedure, though he declined to comment in detail, citing an ongoing review.
Outside Washington, the Minnesota shootings continue to reverberate. Community members have gathered for vigils and memorial rides, holding posters bearing the names of Good and Pretti. Their deaths have become a rallying cry for opponents of the administration’s immigration strategy — and a test of how far Congress is willing to push back.
Inside the hearing room, neither side budged. Democrats demanded reform, transparency and accountability. Administration officials pledged persistence and resolve.
Between those positions lies a widening political fault line — one that shows no sign of narrowing as investigations continue and enforcement expands.
