Newly unveiled records have backed a whistleblower’s claim that ICE slashed its basic training program by more than 40 percent as the Trump administration ramped up its deportation blitz.
Documents obtained by The Washington Post corroborated testimony from former ICE instructor Ryan Schwank, who told congressional Democrats last week that the agency cut 240 hours of instructional time from its 580-hour basic training program covering the use of force, conduct of detentions and arrests, and firearms training.
“I am here to convey to the public the danger that is being created at the ICE Academy,” Schwank said in his testimony. “Law enforcement is a deadly serious business. It is not a place for shortcuts. Deficient training can and will get people killed. It can and will lead to unlawful arrests, violations of constitutional rights, and a fundamental loss of public trust in law enforcement.”
Records viewed by The Post showed that the vast majority of training cuts took place in August, just as ICE went on a hiring blitz that included eliminating the age cap and offering a host of new benefits, such as a signing bonus and student loan repayments.
The initial cuts eliminated more than 100 hours of hands-on instruction and practice scenarios in areas such as firearms and fitness training, as well as classroom instruction on topics like case processing...
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