A former attorney with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement who previously trained new deportation officers has alleged that the agency’s current training program is “deficient, defective and broken.”
Ryan Schwank made the remarks Monday during a public forum organised by congressional Democrats, amid heightened scrutiny of officers implementing President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy.
Civil rights organisations and Democratic lawmakers have accused some deportation officers of using excessive force during arrests, confronting bystanders who record enforcement actions, and failing to uphold constitutional protections.
Schwank Testimony
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is expanding its deportation workforce, prompting concerns from critics that the accelerated hiring process could compromise vetting and training standards. The department rejected those claims, stating that recruits continue to receive instruction on firearms, use-of-force policies, and safe arrest procedures.
Schwank testified at a hearing convened by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Robert Garcia. According to Blumenthal’s office, Schwank resigned from ICE on February 13.
“I am here because I am duty-bound to report the legally required training program at the ICE academy is deficient, defective and broken,” Schwank said, accusing the department of dismantling core components of the training curriculum while publicly claiming no critical standards had been removed.
He alleged that the academy program had been shortened and stripped of essential material, leaving what he described as a “dangerous husk.” Schwank further claimed the department misrepresented the extent of the changes.
Monday’s session marked the third forum held by Blumenthal and Garcia examining ICE recruitment and field conduct. Blumenthal’s office identified Schwank as one of two anonymous whistleblowers who had previously disclosed a new ICE policy permitting deportation officers to forcibly enter a home to remove an immigrant without a warrant signed by a judge..
Homeland Security strongly disputed the allegations. In a statement, department spokesperson Lauren Bis said ICE recruits complete 56 days of academy instruction and an average of 28 days of on-the-job training. She said no training hours have been reduced and that officers receive extensive firearms instruction, de-escalation training, and comprehensive education on Fourth and Fifth Amendment protections.
