January 25, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | News
The United States House Committee on Homeland Security has summoned the heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for an urgent oversight hearing, as controversy and public anger mount over President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown.
In separate but identical letters dated January 24, 2026, Committee Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino invited Todd M. Lyons, Senior Official Performing the Duties of ICE Director, and Rodney S. Scott, CBP Commissioner, to testify before the committee “at the earliest possible date.”
According to the correspondence, committee staff had initially reached out on January 15, but the January 24 letters were sent to formally document — or “memorialize” — the request. The hearing will focus on oversight of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies responsible for border security and immigration enforcement.
Garbarino asked both officials to confirm their availability for one of six proposed dates: February 10 or 24; March 4 or 5; or March 17 or 18, with hearings scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Citing Rules X and XI of the U.S. House of Representatives, the chairman emphasized that the committee has broad jurisdiction over homeland security, including authority to oversee “all government activities relating to homeland security, including the interaction of all departments and agencies with the Department of Homeland Security.”
While the letters did not spell out specific issues to be addressed, the summons comes amid growing scrutiny of federal immigration operations — particularly following a series of deadly incidents involving federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
U.S. Citizen Killed Amid Federal Raids
On Saturday, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, marking the latest fatal incident linked to Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement operations in the city.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse and local resident, died in hospital after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
The killing occurred during a weeks-long deployment of immigration enforcement and other federal agents to Minneapolis, where large-scale raids have intensified under Trump’s anti-immigration push. The city has also seen daily protests following the January 7 shooting of another resident, Renee Good, who was killed after an ICE officer fired into her vehicle.
In a separate incident last week, U.S. security operatives also shot a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis, further escalating tensions.
‘A Campaign of Organised Brutality’ — Walz
Reacting to Saturday’s killing, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz strongly condemned the federal operation, describing it as violent and out of control.
“This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” Walz said at a news conference in Saint Paul. “It’s a campaign of organised brutality against the people of our state. And today, that campaign claimed another life.”
Walz added that the state of Minnesota would take over the investigation into Pretti’s death.
DHS, Trump Push Back
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offered a sharply different account, claiming that a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defense.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the agent shot a man who was armed with a handgun and resisted efforts to be disarmed. According to DHS, the agent fired “defensive shots” after the suspect approached officers and “violently resisted.” Federal officials said the agent involved is an eight-year Border Patrol veteran.
President Donald Trump also weighed in on social media, attacking Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Sharing images of a gun that officials said was recovered at the scene, Trump wrote:
“What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”
Trump further accused the Democratic governor and mayor of “inciting insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.”
Video Footage Contradicts Official Account
However, bystander videos circulating widely online appear to contradict the federal narrative.
In the footage, Pretti is seen standing in the street filming federal agents with his mobile phone. An agent appears to deploy pepper spray toward Pretti and nearby protesters. As Pretti tries to shield himself and assist others, several agents wrestle him to the ground and strike him repeatedly on the head and body.
While agents pin him down, one officer draws a weapon and multiple shots are fired. Pretti’s body is later seen lying motionless in the street.
As public pressure grows and protests continue, the upcoming congressional hearing is expected to place ICE, CBP, and the Trump administration’s immigration tactics under intense scrutiny.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments.
