Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrapped up two days of scrutiny in Congress, appearing for the first time in front of lawmakers since the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration enforcement officers. Noem came under blistering criticism from Democrats — and a few Republicans — over allegations that under her authority, immigration officers have abused the rights of immigrants and American citizens and used excessive force. She was also slammed over how her department is spending the billions of dollars allocated to it by Congress and accused of dodging accountability. Noem, the secretary leading President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, argues she has strengthened the nation’s security.

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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.

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The Trump administration announced this week that its immigration crackdown in Minnesota is ending. Minneapolis will now need to decide how to manage the makeshift memorial sites for two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents. Flowers, handwritten signs and artwork have amassed around the sites where Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot last month. A spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says it was “too early” for the city to comment on the future of the memorial sites. It took the city five years to determine plans for a permanent memorial site for George Floyd after he was murdered by a police officer in 2020.