Heads of ICE, Immigration Agencies Testify as Funding Deadline Looms

Officials face questions over immigration enforcement tactics amid public backlash

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The heads of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will testify before Congress as lawmakers debate funding for the agencies. The officials are expected to face scrutiny over their aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, which have drawn criticism from activists and the public.

Why it matters

The hearing comes at a time of falling public support for the Trump administration's immigration policies and enforcement actions. The agencies have been accused of trampling on the rights of both immigrants and American protesters, raising concerns about civil liberties and the use of force.

The details

Todd Lyons of ICE, Rodney Scott of CBP, and Joseph Edlow of USCIS will appear before the House Committee on Homeland Security. Under their leadership, the agencies have ramped up immigration enforcement, including deploying officers in cities across the country and taking steps that critics say undermine the rights of immigrants and protesters. The officials are likely to face questions about controversial tactics, such as Lyons' memo allowing ICE officers to forcibly enter homes without a judge's warrant.

  • The hearing is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. EST on February 10, 2026.

The players

Todd Lyons

The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Rodney Scott

The head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Joseph Edlow

The director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Lawmakers are locked in a battle over whether the Department of Homeland Security should be funded without restraints placed over its officers' conduct.

The takeaway

The hearing highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and growing public backlash against the perceived overreach and civil liberties violations by the agencies involved.