Senate Homeland Security Committee Chair Rand Paul has written to the heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting that they testify before his committee in light of the growing public outrage over immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis and other communities.
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul has asked ICE’s acting director, Todd M. Lyons, to testify at an open hearing by February 12, 2026. The request cites heightened DHS funding for border enforcement and Congress’s duty to ensure oversight and proper use of taxpayer dollars. ICE has been asked to confirm availability by January 28.
In an X tweet, Rand Paul wrote,” Today, I call on the heads of ICE, CBP, and USCIS to testify before the Homeland Security Committee.”
During his time in the Senate, Dr. Paul has never voted for an unbalanced budget, has returned $8.3 million to the Treasury from his Senate budget, and is known for his annual detailed analysis of government waste. Dr. Paul serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where he conducts oversight and works to keep government accountable to the people.
In another development, Minnesota’s chief federal judge has demanded the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personally appear in court Friday to explain what the judge described as repeated failures to comply with dozens of court orders amid its enforcement efforts in the state, reports Washington Post.
The Letters
Paul sent the letters to CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, ICE acting Director Todd Lyons, and USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. Todd M. Lyons is Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The letter addressed to Lyons reads – “Dear Acting Director Lyons: As you know, the Department of Homeland Security has been provided an exceptional amount of funding to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. Congress has an obligation to conduct oversight of those tax dollars and ensure the funding is used to accomplish the mission, provide proper support for our law enforcement, and, most importantly, protect the American people.
I write to request your testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs at an open hearing by February 12, 2026. Please provide your availability to appear before the Committee by the close of business on January 28, 2026.”
Testimony
In another such testimony, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino has requested testimony from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Todd Lyons, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow at a full Committee hearing. The hearing will provide an opportunity to conduct oversight of each agency and ensure they are fulfilling their duty to protect the homeland.
These testimonies come in the aftermath of another deadly shooting by a federal agent in Minnesota as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.