Mullin tells Congress ICE training will return to 'regular standards'

WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told lawmakers Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will soon have to complete more than 500 hours of training, restoring the program’s original length after the agency cut it by more than 40% during a 2025 hiring push.

“We had to rewrite the curriculum,” Mullin told members of the House Homeland Security Committee. “All training starting July 1 will be back up to the regular standards.”

ICE reduced its training program from 584 hours to 336 hours in fall 2025, according to documents released by Senate Democrats. The cuts came as the agency moved to rapidly onboard hundreds of new agents. News outlets first reported in early May that the department was considering restoring the hours.

The training reductions drew criticism from Democrats and others, particularly after two U.S. citizens were killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January. Critics said recruits did not receive sufficient instruction on firearms handling, First Amendment rights, or other core subjects.

In February, Ryan Schwank, a former ICE attorney, publicly criticized the changes at a forum in Washington.

“For the last five minutes, I watched ICE dismantle the training program,” Schwank said. “Cutting 240 hours of vital classes from a 584-hour program — classes that teach the Constitution, our legal system, firearms training, the use of force, lawful arrests, proper detention and the limits of officers’ authority.”

The agency responded at the time by saying hours had not been cut.

Mullin also told the committee he is reviewing contracts signed by Kristi Noem, the previous DHS secretary, that may have ties to her allies. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the committee, noted that Noem had signed contracts giving business to companies connected with her.

Mullin said he would provide the committee a list of any canceled contracts that had not yet been signed. The department cannot nullify contracts that have been signed, but some remain under review, he said.