ICE Abuse on Tape: Correa EXPOSES Noem’s ‘Worst of the Worst’ Claim

WASHINGTON — A House oversight hearing this week cast new doubt on the Trump administration’s assertion that its immigration crackdown is narrowly focused on “the worst of the worst” criminals, as lawmakers presented video evidence and testimony suggesting that enforcement actions have swept up United States citizens, lawful permanent residents and members of military families with little or no criminal history.

At the center of the confrontation was Representative Lou Correa, a Democrat from California, who used his allotted time to challenge Kristi Noem over the practices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mr. Correa argued that the administration’s public messaging bears little resemblance to what is occurring on the ground.

“The claim is that ICE is targeting violent criminals,” Mr. Correa said. “But the data and the cases tell a very different story.”

Citing internal figures, Mr. Correa said that roughly 70 percent of those arrested under recent enforcement operations had no criminal record. He then described several cases that have drawn increasing scrutiny from civil rights groups and local officials.

One involved Donna Hughes Brown, an Irish citizen and lawful permanent resident who has lived in the United States for nearly five decades. Ms. Brown, the mother of a U.S. Marine and the sister of a retired Army colonel, was detained by ICE after returning from a trip abroad. According to Mr. Correa, her only criminal history consisted of two bad checks totaling less than $80 written more than a decade ago. She has remained in detention since July.

Video testimony from her husband, Jim Brown, was played during the hearing. In it, Mr. Brown said he had supported President Donald Trump because he believed the administration would prioritize dangerous offenders. “They said criminals,” he said. “And I believed criminals needed to be off the street.” He added that he never imagined his wife would be caught up in the enforcement dragnet.

Another case involved Narciso Barranco, an undocumented immigrant who has lived in the United States for 30 years and, according to his lawyer, has no criminal record — not even a traffic citation. Mr. Barranco is the father of three Marines. Lawmakers showed video footage of masked federal agents pinning him to the ground while he was working as a landscaper and striking him repeatedly before placing him in an unmarked vehicle.

The Department of Homeland Security said Mr. Barranco had assaulted officers with a weed trimmer, but video reviewed by CNN showed him running with the tool, not striking agents. A retired Marine, Alex Barranco, appeared behind lawmakers during the hearing as his father’s case was discussed.

Perhaps most troubling, Mr. Correa said, was the detention of George Ree, a 25-year-old California native and U.S. citizen who served in the Army in Iraq. Mr. Ree was stopped at an immigration checkpoint while driving to work, pulled from his vehicle after officers broke his window, and subjected to tear gas and pepper spray. He was held for three days without charges, according to Mr. Correa.

Civil liberties advocates say such cases raise serious constitutional concerns. While immigration enforcement allows for broad discretion, citizenship is meant to be an absolute barrier to detention by immigration authorities. Even undocumented immigrants, legal scholars note, are entitled to due process protections.

The administration has defended its approach as necessary to restore public safety and deter unlawful migration. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, have said that enforcement decisions are lawful and based on officer safety and operational needs.

But critics argue that the widening scope of enforcement reflects a shift from targeted action to indiscriminate policing. They also note the symbolic weight of the military-family cases, which undercut an administration that frequently emphasizes its support for service members and veterans.

“These examples expose a profound hypocrisy,” said one former federal prosecutor, noting that military service and family ties appear to offer no protection when enforcement priorities are driven by political pressure rather than individualized assessment.

The hearing underscored the role of congressional oversight at a time when executive authority over immigration has expanded significantly. Lawmakers from both parties acknowledged that immigration policy remains deeply polarized, but several said the testimony raised questions that transcend ideology.

“When citizens and legal residents are detained without charges, that is not a policy dispute,” one Democrat said afterward. “That is a constitutional issue.”

As investigations continue, the cases highlighted by Mr. Correa are likely to intensify scrutiny of ICE’s practices and the administration’s claims. Whether they lead to policy changes remains uncertain. But for families who believed they were safely on the right side of the law, the hearing offered a stark message: in today’s immigration system, even citizenship and service may not guarantee protection from the reach of the state.