ICE, CBP Officials Questioned on Enforcement Tactics During Senate Hearing

Senators raise concerns over recent fatal encounters between federal agents and Minneapolis residents

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Top officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday, facing tough questions about their agencies' enforcement tactics and the erosion of public trust following recent deadly encounters with Minneapolis residents.

Why it matters

The hearings come amid growing scrutiny and criticism of federal immigration enforcement actions, particularly in the wake of high-profile incidents in Minneapolis where local officials and community members have disputed the federal agencies' accounts of the events and raised concerns about excessive use of force.

The details

During the hearing, Senators Rand Paul and Gary Peters pressed the agency heads on videos showing federal agents physically restraining and shooting Minneapolis residents, including 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti and Renee Good. The senators questioned whether the agents' actions constituted appropriate de-escalation and use of force, and accused the agencies of jumping to conclusions about the residents being 'terrorists' or 'assassins' before investigations were complete.

  • The Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing took place on February 12, 2026.
  • The fatal encounters with Alex Pretti and Renee Good occurred in January and February 2026 in Minneapolis.

The players

Joseph Edlow

Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Rodney Scott

Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Todd Lyons

Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Rand Paul

Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Gary Peters

Ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

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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, Senator (wbal.com)

“I understand you not wanting to make conclusions yet, but nobody believes you're gonna because you made conclusions immediately.”

— Rand Paul, Senator (wbal.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 (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Senate committee has indicated it will continue to closely monitor the investigations into the Minneapolis incidents and push for greater transparency and accountability from the federal agencies.

The takeaway

The heated Senate hearing underscores the growing tensions and lack of public trust in federal immigration enforcement actions, particularly around the use of force and transparency. The agencies face pressure to reform their tactics and rebuild confidence in the communities they serve.