Swalwell demands ICE Director Todd Lyons resign or ‘side with killers’

Appearing ICE Director Todd Lyons refused to resign below strain from Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who supplied him an ultimatum to take action or “aspect with the killers.”

The heated alternate throughout Tuesday’s Home Homeland Safety Committee listening to is not the primary time Swalwell has confronted ICE about its mass deportation operations. He beforehand co-authored the “ICE OUT Act” with fellow committee member Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-N.Y., which might take away certified immunity from federal immigration brokers.

Close to the tip of his questioning, Swalwell instructed Lyon that persevering with to guide ICE is a “selection” and highlighted his earlier adorned army and legislation enforcement profession.

“You might be what I’d name ‘in a different way employable’. I feel most individuals would agree that this isn’t the one job you will get. However since you bought this job, girls have been dragged by the streets by their hair. A six-year-old little one battling stage 4 most cancers has been deported. And it seems he was an American citizen,” Swalwell claimed.

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Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) speaks throughout a Home Judiciary Committee listening to with FBI Director Kash Patel within the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on September 17, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Photographs)

The Alameda lawmaker, who can also be working for governor, mentioned individuals are fleeing ICE “by the fields the place they work” and that “disgraceful” statements from the DHS chief ought to persuade Lyon to search for a brand new job.

“Will you help the youngsters you might be supposed to guard, or will you aspect with the murderers who carry terror to our streets? Mr. Lyons, would you wish to resign from ICE?” Swalwell requested, as a poster of a kid appeared behind him.

Lyons responded, “No sir, I do not,” after which addressed the poster that Swalwell employees had created.

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“That little one you present right here, the women and men of ICE took care of him when his father deserted him and ran from the police,” Lyons mentioned, referring to the case of Adrian AC Arias, an Ecuadorian nationwide who was focused by ICE.

Arias deserted his five-year-old little one to flee authorities, main Democrats and a few within the press to assert that DHS had focused the kid, who was positioned of their custody.

“For the kid’s security, one in all our ICE brokers remained with the kid whereas the opposite brokers arrested Conejo Arias,” a DHS official mentioned of the state of affairs. “ICE didn’t goal a baby.”

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Swalwell additionally pressed Lyon over feedback made at a Border Safety Expo suggesting immigration enforcement and deportation operations can be as environment friendly as Amazon Prime supply.

“Mr. Lyons, what number of occasions has Amazon Prime shot a mom thrice within the face?” Swalwell requested, showing to check with the capturing of Renee Good in Minneapolis.

“None,” Lyons mentioned.

“It is the sq. root of zero, that is proper,” Swalwell responded, earlier than Lyons responded that his Amazon remark got here within the context of feedback about enhancing the know-how round DHS’s work, together with effectivity and synthetic intelligence.

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Protesters, utilizing whistles to warn neighborhoods of ICE exercise, confront Minneapolis law enforcement officials on January 24, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP through Getty Photographs)

“I mentioned on the finish, however we’re coping with folks, so we will not be like them. That is crucial half you permit out,” Lyons mentioned.

On the finish of Swalwell’s remarks, Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., gave the ground to Rep. Michael Visitor, R-Miss., who supplied a friendlier dialog with Lyon.