A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lawyer has publicly denounced the agency, alleging severe deficiencies in its training programs that could undermine constitutional rights. Ryan Schwank, who previously worked at the agency’s training academy, has described ICE as “deficient, defective and broken,” arguing that it is actively instructing new cadets in ways that could lead to violations of the Constitution.
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Schwank’s criticisms come on the heels of recent revelations from the Senate Democrats, who published a series of internal ICE records suggesting significant reductions in mandatory training hours overseen by the agency during the Trump administration. At a forum organised by Capitol Hill Democrats, Schwank stated, “For the last five months, I watched ICE dismantle the training programme,” alleging that 240 hours of essential classes had been removed from the original 584-hour curriculum. These classes covered vital subjects such as constitutional law, appropriate enforcement techniques, and the parameters of lawful detention.
Concerns regarding the competency of new recruits have been raised by training instructors who claim that cadets are failing to show a sufficient understanding of core legal concepts and enforcement tactics before graduation. Schwank highlighted that many in the training staff held worries that even in their final training days, cadets struggled to demonstrate the fundamental skills required for effective policing.
In response, Lauren Bis, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, refuted Schwank’s assertions, stating that ICE officers undergo rigorous training, which includes comprehensive instruction on the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. She further emphasized that the training process extends beyond the academy, incorporating on-the-job training that is closely tracked and evaluated.
However, documents released reveal a substantial decrease in training hours compared to those experienced by prior cohorts. These changes appear to coincide with a push by the Trump administration to accelerate recruitment efforts. Specifically, various essential training modules have been entirely eliminated. For instance, ICE cadets previously needed to complete 25 practical exams to graduate, but the requirement has since been reduced to just nine. Critical assessments linked to real-world scenarios, such as “Judgment pistol shooting” and “Determine removability,” have also been scrapped.
A recent memo from the minority staff of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations notes that the remaining evaluations are primarily conducted via open-book, multiple-choice tests, with an absence of practical assessments that were formerly a staple of officer training.
These training changes come amidst heightened scrutiny following fatal incidents involving ICE agents. Just weeks ago, two American citizens were killed in Minnesota by immigration and border officials operating under the Department of Homeland Security.
Having served as a legal instructor at the federal law enforcement training academy in Georgia, Schwank decided to resign from his position on February 13. His departure followed a confidential complaint he lodged alongside another individual concerning a controversial ICE policy that permits deportation officers to enter private homes without a judicial warrant.
At the forum, Schwank asserted, “ICE is teaching cadets to violate the Constitution,” reinforcing the urgency of addressing these alarming trends.
Earlier this month, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons appeared before Congress, where he mentioned that the number of training days had been reduced from 75 to 42. However, he noted a shift in the daily schedule from five eight-hour days to six twelve-hour days. This testimony has now been contradicted by the Senate Democrats’ memo, which claims recruits currently receive nearly 250 hours less training than before.
Democratic senators are now calling on new recruits to speak out regarding their experiences within the agency. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut issued a rallying cry, stating, “We know about the Trump Administration’s decimation of training for immigration officers and its secret policy to shred your constitutional rights because of the brave Americans who are speaking out today.”
With the stability and integrity of law enforcement training under question, the calls for accountability are intensifying, demanding a comprehensive review of practices that could affect the protection of constitutional rights. The implications of Schwank’s revelations raise significant concerns not just for the agency’s operations but also for the broader principles of justice and law enforcement in the United States.