Former ICE instructor will testify as whistleblower that agents taught to violate Fourth Amendment

Christopher Vondracek, Star Tribune on Feb 23, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

WASHINGTON — A former ICE teacher at a Georgia training center will tell a forum called by congressional Democrats on Monday that new agents are trained to run roughshod over constitutional rights, including the right against a home invasion, and that the federal agency is “broken.”

Ryan Schwank, who resigned from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Feb. 13, plans to tell the forum that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is training new agents to violate the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure, according to a draft of Schwank’s testimony shared with the Minnesota Star Tribune.

“ICE is lying to Congress and the American people about the steps it is taking to ensure its 10,000 news officers faithfully uphold the Constitution,” Schwank, who joined ICE as legal counsel in 2021, said in the draft.

The Department of Homeland Security, which runs ICE, has said all of its officers were following federal law throughout Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis and other widespread escalations such as in Chicago.

But others have made several criticisms. Last month, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., wrote to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about a “secret” policy permitting agents to “circumvent the privacy protections” in the Fourth Amendment by relying on an administrative order, rather than a judicial warrant.

DHS said Feb. 23 that no training requirements have been removed.

“Despite false claims from the media and sanctuary politicians, no training hours have been cut,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.

Bis said ICE agents receive “comprehensive instruction” in both the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

The congressional forum, set for 2 p.m. Central time, is hosted by Blumenthal and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif.

Earlier this month, a similar gathering heard testimony from Renee Good’s brothers and a Minneapolis resident dragged from her car.

A memo from Minority Staff of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations also lays out internal ICE records showing that new recruits are receiving significantly less training than previous officers.

Two weeks ago, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons told Congress that while the overall training days had declined, new officers were being asked to work longer days.

But the records in the memo suggest ICE trainees are still working “nine-hour days.” Furthermore, they are taking fewer exams. One exam cut by staff includes a practice on “Judgment Pistol Shooting,” according to the memo.

Minneapolis resident Teyana Gibson Brown, who was photographed as ICE burst into her home in mid-January, will also appear at the forum on Feb. 23.

“To anyone else who is repulsed by what you’re seeing or what authorities are asking you to do, please know that you can make a real difference by coming forward,” said Blumenthal in a statement.

_____