A tense showdown erupted on Capitol Hill as Eric Swalwell pressed Todd Lyons to step down from his role leading Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The heated exchange unfolded during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing where deportation operations and agency conduct dominated the discussion.
Swalwell, who is campaigning for governor in California, has long clashed with ICE leadership. His latest confrontation made clear that he intends to maintain pressure as federal immigration practices remain under intense scrutiny.
Swalwell Presses Lyons Over ICE Operations
Swalwell co authored the “ICE OUT Act” with fellow Democrat Daniel Goldman, legislation designed to remove qualified immunity protections from federal immigration agents. During the hearing, he framed Lyons’ continued role as a moral choice.
“You are what I would call ‘otherwise employable’. I think most people would agree this is not the only job that you can get. But since you’ve been on this job, women have been dragged by their hair through streets. A 6-year-old child battling stage-four cancer has been deported. And it turns out he was a U.S. citizen,” Swalwell claimed.
He went further, saying families are fleeing ICE “through the fields where they work” and insisting that “disgraceful” statements from Homeland Security officials should convince Lyons to leave.
“Will you stand with the kids who you’re supposed to protect, or will you side with the killers bringing terror to our streets? Mr. Lyons, will you resign from ICE?” Swalwell asked.
Lyons responded directly.
“No sir, I won’t,” he said.
Lyons Pushes Back on Child Custody Accusations
Lyons took issue with a poster presented behind Swalwell, which referenced a case involving the young son of Ecuadorian national Adrian A.C. Arias.
“That child that you’re showing right there, the men and women of ICE took care of him when his father abandoned him and ran from law enforcement,” Lyons said.
The case triggered widespread controversy when the child was placed into custody. Some lawmakers and media outlets accused DHS of targeting the child intentionally. Officials rejected that claim.
“For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias,” a DHS official said. “ICE did not target a child.”
Amazon Prime Remark Sparks New Clash
Swalwell then revisited comments Lyons made at a Border Security Expo. At the event, Lyons referenced Amazon Prime while discussing improvements to technology and efficiency within deportation operations.
“Mr. Lyons how many times has Amazon Prime shot a mom three times in the face?” Swalwell asked, referring to the Minneapolis killing of Renee Good.
“None,” Lyons answered.
“It’s the square root of zero, that’s right,” Swalwell replied.
Lyons countered that his remarks were taken out of context, explaining that he was speaking about technological upgrades, including artificial intelligence applications.
“I did say at the end of it, but we deal with human beings, so we can’t be like them. That’s the key part that you’re leaving out,” Lyons said.
Committee Hearing Ends on a Calmer Note
As Swalwell concluded, Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino yielded the floor. The questioning then passed to Michael Guest, who engaged Lyons in a more measured exchange, bringing the tense session down to a quieter close.
