WASHINGTON (AP) — The men tasked with carrying out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda were made to watch a video of the shooting death of Alex Pretti, in a slow, moment-by-moment analysis by Sen. Rand Paul. Paul questioned the tactics used by federal officers and warned of the American public's loss of trust in immigration agencies.
The hearing scrutinized immigration chiefs amidst ongoing outrage over the deaths of protesters at the hands of federal officers.
Paul argued that Pretti posed no threat and described him as retreating while being assaulted with pepper spray. “He’s trying to get away and he’s being sprayed in the face,” Paul stated.
The panel included Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, Rodney Scott, head of CBP, and Joseph Edlow, overseeing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Paul’s comments were a strong rebuke of the CBP conduct that led to Pretti’s death on January 24 in Minneapolis.
“It’s clearly evident that the public trust has been lost. To restore trust in ICE and Border Patrol, they must admit their mistakes and pledge to reform,” he said. Paul was the only Republican to challenge the immigration officers, while others refrained from criticism.
Democrats joined in condemning the shooting and questioned how much force is used by federal officers. Scott countered that Pretti was non-compliant, saying, “He’s not following any guidance. He’s fighting back nonstop.”
Lyons noted that since Trump took office, ICE has initiated numerous investigations for excessive force, but the ongoing scrutiny reflects a larger discontentment with federal immigration enforcement. Sen. Richard Blumenthal questioned Lyons about a memo justifying the use of administrative warrants to enter homes without independent judicial oversight.
The outrage over the shooting death of Pretti led to a review of ICE's operations by Trump’s border czar, who announced a winding down of the operation which had included as many as 3,000 officers. The hearing underscored a critical moment of reckoning for the tactics of U.S. immigration enforcement amid allegations of excessive force and violations of rights.
The hearing scrutinized immigration chiefs amidst ongoing outrage over the deaths of protesters at the hands of federal officers.
Paul argued that Pretti posed no threat and described him as retreating while being assaulted with pepper spray. “He’s trying to get away and he’s being sprayed in the face,” Paul stated.
The panel included Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, Rodney Scott, head of CBP, and Joseph Edlow, overseeing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Paul’s comments were a strong rebuke of the CBP conduct that led to Pretti’s death on January 24 in Minneapolis.
“It’s clearly evident that the public trust has been lost. To restore trust in ICE and Border Patrol, they must admit their mistakes and pledge to reform,” he said. Paul was the only Republican to challenge the immigration officers, while others refrained from criticism.
Democrats joined in condemning the shooting and questioned how much force is used by federal officers. Scott countered that Pretti was non-compliant, saying, “He’s not following any guidance. He’s fighting back nonstop.”
Lyons noted that since Trump took office, ICE has initiated numerous investigations for excessive force, but the ongoing scrutiny reflects a larger discontentment with federal immigration enforcement. Sen. Richard Blumenthal questioned Lyons about a memo justifying the use of administrative warrants to enter homes without independent judicial oversight.
The outrage over the shooting death of Pretti led to a review of ICE's operations by Trump’s border czar, who announced a winding down of the operation which had included as many as 3,000 officers. The hearing underscored a critical moment of reckoning for the tactics of U.S. immigration enforcement amid allegations of excessive force and violations of rights.
