ICE training will return to ‘regular standards’ this summer, Mullin says

WASHINGTON —

Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin told a House committee on Wednesday that training standards for new Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruits would be restored this summer, a point of contention since the Trump administration surged hiring last year.

Mullin was asked on Wednesday when his department would revert back to its 72-day training requirement, rather than a 42-day accelerated program. Critics have raised concerns that the shorter program left agents unprepared as President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign kicked into high gear.

“We had to rewrite the curriculum. Training, starting July 1, will be back up to the regular standards,” Mullin said.

Mullin testified on Capitol Hill this week for the first time since his confirmation at a critical time for his department.

Senate Republicans also voted Wednesday to start debate on a roughly $70 billion bill that could fund immigration enforcement agencies through the rest of President Donald Trump’s term, despite opposition from Democrats.

Democrats have been demanding immigration enforcement reforms before approving new funding for ICE and Border Patrol. The debate was at the center of the record-long shutdown that disrupted services across much of the Department of Homeland Security. Now, Republicans are trying to bypass Democrats using a process called reconciliation, which could allow the GOP to fund these agencies on a party-line vote.

Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Democrat from Rhode Island, pressed Mullin on how he would handle cases of excessive force.

“Can you explain what you are going to do to ensure that those who do step over the line, those who do act inappropriately, will be held accountable? Because this accountability did not exist under your predecessor,” Magaziner said.

“We hold everybody at the highest standard, and if you fail to meet that standard, we will hold you accountable,” Mullin replied.

Magaziner also asked Mullin if his agents would avoid enforcement operations in sensitive locations, such as churches, schools, and courthouses.

“We’re not actively patrolling or enforcing in sensitive areas. However, we do serve warrants in those areas, and these are going out for the worst of the worst,” Mullin said.

The Trump administration has long insisted that it is focused on removing violent criminals, but enforcement operations have also swept up a wide range of immigrants with no prior convictions, according to government data.

“I think you need to use your discretion a little bit more as to who is being deported, who’s being arrested, etc. Let’s go after the worst of the worst,” said Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a Republican from Florida, who pointed to reports that ICE failed to take criminal suspects into custody.

“There’s no excuse for it, but we just don’t have the resources to get there like we need to,” said Mullin, who noted that ICE only has 48 hours after defendants are booked into local jails to take them into custody.

Mullin also sparred with Democrats over what they described as inhumane conditions at detention centers, including rotten food, unsanitary facilities, and a lack of medical care.

“Do you audit or track how long it takes between complaining about a health condition and the time it takes to receive care?” asked Rep. Analilia Mejia, a Democrat who raised concerns about a New Jersey detention facility called Delaney Hall.

“Our standards pass and succeed your own state penitentiary that you pay no attention to,” Mullin replied.

“So as I understand it, yet again, the answer is I don’t know,” Mejia said.