ICE officer training is ‘deficient’ and ‘broken,’ former agency lawyer tells congressional forum

A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorney delivered a scathing critique of the agency’s training program on Monday, describing it as “deficient, defective and broken” during a forum organized by congressional Democrats.

Ryan Schwank, who recently resigned from ICE where he was responsible for training new deportation officers, made his allegations at a time when the agency faces intense scrutiny over its enforcement practices. The forum was hosted by Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Representative Robert Garcia of California.

“I am here because I am duty-bound to report the legally required training program at the ICE academy is deficient, defective and broken,” said Schwank, who resigned from the agency on February 13 according to Blumenthal’s office.

Schwank accused the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of dismantling crucial elements of officer training while misleading the public about these changes. “DHS told the public the new cadets receive all the training they need to perform their duties, that no critical material or standards have been cut,” he stated. “This is a lie. ICE made the program shorter, and they removed so many essential parts that what remains is a dangerous husk.”

The allegations come amid President Trump’s push for increased deportations, which has necessitated rapid expansion of ICE’s workforce. Critics, including human rights organizations and Democratic lawmakers, have accused deportation officers of constitutional violations, excessive force during arrests, and intimidating bystanders who record their activities.

Blumenthal’s office identified Schwank as one of two whistleblowers who previously exposed a new ICE policy that allegedly authorizes officers to forcibly enter immigrants’ homes without judicial warrants. The senator’s office also released documents purportedly showing “drastic cuts” to officer training, including reductions in required exams, courses, and training hours.

“The training has been truncated and reduced, both in numbers of courses and substantive policy,” Senator Blumenthal said.

DHS strongly refuted these claims. In an emailed statement, department spokeswoman Lauren Bis insisted: “Despite false claims from the media and sanctuary politicians, no training hours have been cut. Our officers receive extensive firearm training, are taught de-escalation tactics, and receive Fourth and Fifth Amendment comprehensive instruction.”

According to DHS, ICE recruits undergo 56 days of training followed by an average of 28 days of on-the-job training. The department maintained it has merely “streamlined training to cut redundancy and incorporate technology advancements, without sacrificing basic subject matter content.”

Schwank disputed the effectiveness of the on-the-job training, describing it as minimal supervision. He claimed many graduates simply return to their home offices to “get their gun, their badge and their body armor” before being deployed.

One particularly concerning development, according to Schwank, is the lowering of age requirements for ICE officers. He testified about teaching cadets as young as 18, including one who celebrated her 19th birthday in his classroom. Last summer, DHS eliminated age restrictions for agency recruits, who previously had to be at least 21 years old.

When questioned about inappropriate use of force during training, Schwank reported witnessing multiple incidents, including trainees accidentally drawing firearms on each other, conducting arrests without cause, and using excessive force. Despite these serious lapses, he said these individuals still graduated from the academy.

The documents released by Blumenthal’s staff indicate that ICE has eliminated over a dozen “practical exams” previously required for deportation officers. They also suggest the agency has cut several classes, including “Use of Force Simulation Training,” resulting in fewer overall training hours.

The forum also featured testimony from Teyana Gibson Brown, whose husband was reportedly arrested by deportation officers who entered their home without a judicial warrant, and Stevan Bunnell, who served as DHS general counsel from 2013 to 2017.

This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement policies and raises significant questions about the preparedness of officers tasked with carrying out deportation operations across the United States.