WASHINGTON — The heads of federal agencies carrying out mass deportation agenda delivered a staunch defense of immigration enforcement operations during three hours of testimony to Congress on Tuesday.

Todd Lyons, acting head of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, joined other immigration officials on Tuesday to answer questions from lawmakers on their deportation operations at a US House of Representatives hearing, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressing divided views.

Lyons testified at a hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, along with Rodney Scott, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, and Joseph Edlow, director of Citizenship and Immigration Services. All three agencies operate under the Department of Homeland Security.

The ICE chief and other immigration officials, who defended the US administration's mass deportation operations, largely received praise and support from Republican lawmakers and drew criticism from Democrats, reflecting a polarized political environment.

Democrats pressed the officials on a lack of due process, poorly-regulated practices, the two fatal shootings of US citizens by federal agents, and whether Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — who has faced mounting pressure in recent days following her comments describing the victims as having committed "an act of domestic terrorism" — should resign.

Republicans, meanwhile, supported mass deportation policies and highlighted the risk and danger faced by federal immigration agents.

New York Democratic Representative Timothy Kennedy is among the lawmakers who lashed out at ICE for wearing masks during immigration raids. "In America, we shouldn't have secret police. We shouldn't have masked government agents executing citizens in the streets," he said.

Bodycams 'welcomed'

Asked whether there were plans to release footage from body cameras worn by immigration agents in Minnesota state, Lyons said he fully welcomes body cameras.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said on Tuesday that he expects the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota will end in "days, not weeks and months", based on his recent conversations with top Trump administration officials.

The Democratic governor said at a news conference that he spoke Monday with White House Border Czar Tom Homan and with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Tuesday morning. Homan took over the Minnesota operation in late January after the second fatal shooting by federal officers and amid growing political backlash and questions about how the operation was being run.

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the governor's remarks.

Xinhua