ICE, CBP Officials Grilled on Enforcement Tactics at Senate Hearing

Senators question leaders on use of force, public trust in agencies

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Senators Rand Paul and Gary Peters questioned the heads of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about their agencies' enforcement tactics and the loss of public trust following recent incidents in Minneapolis involving the shooting deaths of two residents by federal agents.

Why it matters

The hearing highlighted growing concerns over the use of force by federal immigration enforcement agencies and the need to rebuild public trust, especially in communities that have experienced high-profile incidents of violence involving these agencies.

The details

During the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, Senators Paul and Peters reviewed video footage frame-by-frame of the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in Minneapolis. They questioned whether the agents' actions constituted appropriate de-escalation tactics, noting that Pretti appeared to be holding a cell phone, not a gun, when he was killed. The senators also criticized initial statements from Homeland Security officials labeling Pretti as a 'would-be assassin' and 'terrorist' before the investigation was complete.

  • The Senate hearing took place on February 12, 2026.
  • The shooting of Alex Pretti occurred in January 2026.
  • The shooting of Renee Good occurred in early January 2026.

The players

Rand Paul

U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Gary Peters

U.S. Senator and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Todd Lyons

Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Rodney Scott

Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Joseph Edlow

Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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What they’re saying

“No one in America believes shoving that woman's head and face in the snow was de-escalation.”

— Rand Paul, U.S. Senator (mycentraloregon.com)

“There's body-cam video, that's all being looked at. And until all that evidence is evaluated, I can't jump to a conclusion on either direction. I would ask America to do the same thing, but I am committed to transparency, to making sure all the information we have is made public when it's appropriate.”

— Rodney Scott, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (mycentraloregon.com)

What’s next

The Senate committee is expected to continue its oversight of ICE and CBP enforcement tactics and policies in the coming months.

The takeaway

This hearing underscores the need for federal immigration enforcement agencies to rebuild public trust through greater transparency, accountability, and adherence to de-escalation tactics, especially in communities that have experienced high-profile incidents of violence involving these agencies.