Committee member says ICE, DHS acting like Trump’s 'personal and private military,' cites constitutional violations

A committee member for the Oversight Committee Democrats said ICE and the Department of Homeland Security "are operating like Donald Trump's personal and private military force," and alleged agents have been ordered to disregard the Constitution during remarks recorded in the transcript.

The allegation came as the speaker summarized testimony from teachers, veterans and other witnesses who, the speaker said, have been arrested, shot or attacked with "zero justification." The speaker said the Oversight Committee Democrats "have documented over 530 credible and verified instances of possible abuses and misconduct by President Trump's federal immigration agents," including "224 incidents just with use of force." The committee member presented those figures "as of February of this year."

The speaker also said the alleged actions amount to constitutional violations. Reading from the Fourth Amendment, the speaker emphasized that it protects "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures" and noted that the amendment protects "people, not just United States citizens."

The transcript does not record any response from ICE or DHS. The remarks in the transcript are presented as allegations and the speaker framed the claims as documentation collected by the Oversight Committee Democrats; the transcript does not show evidence in the form of a formal enforcement report or agency reply within these segments.

The record shows the committee member laying out the claims and statutory framing; the transcript indicates additional testimony was expected later in the proceeding.