U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke out against the Trump Administration’s approach to hiring for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid a significant increase in recruitment efforts. The administration has announced its intention to hire 10,000 new agents by year-end, which would more than double the current number of deportation officers.
Durbin criticized what he described as low standards for ICE recruits and expressed concern over recent aggressive immigration enforcement actions in Illinois and other states under “Operation Midway Blitz.” He disputed claims that federal agents are targeting only serious criminals during these operations.
“Of more than 600 immigrants recently arrested, do you know how many of them had significant criminal history? Sixteen—16 out of more than 600. Nationwide, ICE arrested nearly 75,000 people with no criminal history between January 20 and October [15]. Federal immigration agents have arrested and detained: a mother on her way to visit her 15-day-old baby in the NICU; a teacher at a preschool in front of her young students; [and] day laborers, vendors, construction workers, and cooks simply trying to make a living and support their families. Immigration agents arrested and detained at least 40 U.S. citizens in Illinois alone between late August and early November. Does that sound like we’re getting rid of ‘the worst of the worst’? People with no criminal history,” Durbin said.
He called on his Republican colleagues to address what he sees as abuses resulting from these raids: “I have urged my Republican colleagues… to consider the possibility that these raids could come to a city they represent, and they would be faced with the same reality. Would they call out these abuses of power? Well, I regret to inform them that that time has come. After wreaking havoc in Illinois, Border Patrol official Greg Bovino and his traveling circus have hit the road and descended on more communities, including in red states. Last month, in Charlotte, North Carolina, a video posted to social media showed a U.S. citizen construction worker being swarmed by federal agents while in his vehicle,” Durbin continued. “The man said the agents ‘didn’t believe I was an American citizen’ and ‘wanted to know where I was born.’ He was released only after agents verified his citizenship.”
Durbin also cited an incident in Marrero, Louisiana involving federal agents confronting a woman who identified herself as a U.S. citizen—a situation captured on video—and noted similar increased enforcement activities occurring across Florida and Texas.
Turning attention back to ICE recruitment practices under President Trump’s administration, Durbin stated: “The Trump Administration should be working to improve screening, hiring, and training of recruits before unleashing them onto the streets of America. Instead, they have lowered requirements—including [by] loosening the age restrictions for prospective agents and shortening the training period from 13 weeks to a mere six weeks... Recent reporting suggests that these new, lowered hiring standards have resulted in ICE recruits who have: barely been able to read or write; failed drug tests; displayed tattoos associated with gangs and white supremacists; failed to meet basic physical fitness requirements; and even have pending criminal charges.”
He concluded by questioning whether lower standards will lead to further troubling incidents involving ICE personnel: “These are the people that President Trump is attempting to release onto our streets to restore ‘law and order.’ With these lower standards, these troubling incidents I described are definitely going to increase. Given all of this, I ask my Republican colleagues: if you think we need to keep an eye on the federal government, why don’t we start here? Will any of you rebuke this lawlessness and cruelty? What will it take for you to finally do so? We ought to be united in calling out these abuses. Secretary Noem wants to play dress up in her camo wardrobe, demanding government jets to tour her battleground states… [and] arrest ordinary people who are working hard on tough jobs. I believe [this] is an attempt to change basic Constitutional principles. We have to stand up and speak out. Is this what America is really all about?”
Video footage as well as audio recordings from Durbin’s remarks delivered on the Senate floor are available online.
