The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed on Thursday that it is conducting several investigations focused on the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. These investigations are scrutinizing various aspects of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) operations, amid growing political tensions and public outcry over the methods used in handling immigration issues.

The OIG is reviewing an array of practices, including ICE’s rapid personnel expansion, the expedited removal processes, adherence to use of force guidelines, and compliance with detention standards. A particularly critical probe is examining the DHS’ procedures for affirming U.S. citizenship in cases where individuals were detained or arrested during immigration enforcement activities.

Additionally, an investigation into CBP, initiated in early January, is assessing whether the agency’s interior immigration enforcement actions align with departmental policies and federal mandates. This scrutiny comes at a time when both Democratic and Republican lawmakers express increasing unease with the administration's immigration strategies, particularly those that have resulted in violent confrontations.

The series of investigations arrive as Senate Democrats stall DHS funding, demanding substantial reforms to both ICE and CBP. These reforms include mandates for federal officers to wear body cameras and visible identification. Controversially, the administration has also been firm on its stance against requiring immigration enforcement agents to wear masks.

Responses from DHS, ICE, and CBP were not immediately available as spokespersons did not respond to requests for comments.

Compounding the controversy is President Donald Trump’s earlier actions in his second term where he dismissed several government agency watchdogs, though DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, a Trump appointee from his first term, remains in position. His office has faced pressure from numerous Democratic legislators urging an acceleration of the investigations into allegations of excessive force by ICE.

Despite the internal goal of completing audits within 397 days, the OIG often misses this target, influenced by various factors as outlined in a recent Government Accountability Office report. The OIG emphasized that it has mechanisms in place to promptly report urgent findings to the Department and Congress, without waiting for a final report.

Amidst these unfolding events, calls for the ousting of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem have intensified, although a motion for impeachment seems unlikely to succeed due to insufficient bipartisan support in the House. The outcome of these investigations and the subsequent political actions could significantly influence the future landscape of U.S. immigration policy.