Politics7d ago·26 sources
A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement instructor testified that the agency has scaled back its training, leaving recruits unprepared
A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) instructor testified before Congress that the agency has significantly reduced training for new recruits, leaving them unprepared for their duties. Ryan Schwank, who resigned from ICE in protest, stated that training days have dropped from 72 to 42 within a seven-month period, with multiple use-of-force courses removed. He alleged that cadets are graduating without a solid grasp of tactics or law, and that ICE officials are lying about the extent of training. Internal documents shared with Congress show a reduction in training hours and the elimination of crucial evaluations. The Department of Homeland Security denies these claims, stating training has been streamlined without sacrificing content. Schwank countered that specific firearms and constitutional rights training has been drastically cut. The testimony comes amid calls for accountability following incidents of deadly force deployment by federal immigration officers and is expected to influence funding debates.