Congress Homeland Security
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Ct., speaks during a Senate Homeland Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington.
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A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawyer says the agency’s training for new deportation officers is broken as ICE ramps up its hiring. Ryan Schwank was testifying Monday during a public forum hosted by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Robert Garcia. Schwank says the basic training program is “deficient” and officers need clear limits on their authority. Blumenthal's office cites documents showing fewer practical exams and dropped classes for new ICE recruits. The Department of Homeland Security denies cutting corners and says new officers get trained on firearms, use-of-force policies and how to safely arrest people.
Democrats stay mostly united against President Donald Trump, but the strikes on Iran are starting to reveal some splits in the party. Democrats condemn Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while also pushing a war powers vote to limit Trump. Some pro-Israel Democrats say they will not support that measure. Trump says the operation could last weeks and warns casualties could rise. Democrats point to gas prices and economic swings. The fight also revives tensions over Israel and AIPAC in key primaries.
