ICE Training Will Return to 'Regular,' Mullin Says

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has decided to keep its recruits in school longer. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a House panel on Wednesday that ICE will restore its officer training program to its previous length starting July 1, after a period in which the hours were significantly reduced during a hiring surge under the Trump administration, the New York Times reports. Documents released by Senate Democrats earlier this year indicated ICE training had been cut by about 40%, from 584 hours last July to roughly 336 hours by February.

That reduction had drawn criticism from Democrats and a former ICE attorney who said key courses on constitutional law, use of force, firearms, and arrest procedures had been trimmed. Homeland Security countered that officers were receiving firearms training, were taught "de-escalation tactics," and were instructed on the Constitution, per the AP. Mullin said Wednesday that the curriculum has now been rewritten and that all new classes will meet the "regular standards." He didn't address the criticism or say why the change is being made now.