WASHINGTON (TNND) — Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson appeared to use an AI-generated photo of Alex Preti’s death during Tuesday’s oversight hearing.
In the photo, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer does not have a head.
The image was aired during a hearing in which Thompson criticized federal officials and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
“Secretary Noem is a liar and has no concern for the American lives killed by her department,” Thompson said. “She has to go.”
Thompson made the comments as three Department of Homeland Security officials appeared before the House Homeland Security Committee as President Donald Trump continues to crack down on illegal immigration. They include:
- Todd Lyons, senior official performing duties as Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Rodney Scott, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Joseph Edlow, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
The hearing comes as another government shutdown looms. Democrats said they would not vote in favor of the DHS spending bill if funding dries up unless there are “drastic changes” to ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies in the wake of Preti’s death and the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis last month.
Lyons, the acting director of ICE, said officers will not be deterred from their mission even if they face threats from the public.
“Families of ICE agents are being made to feel unsafe in their homes,” he testified.
Lyons said even her own family has been harassed. But he warned that anyone attempting to intimidate ICE officers “will fail.”
“We’re just getting started,” he said.
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Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
