Comedian and podcast host Adam Carolla sharply criticized Rep. Eric Swalwell after the California Democrat recounted a story about a frightened bodega worker during a House hearing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, as reported by Breitbart.

The exchange took place Tuesday when Todd Lyons, director of ICE, appeared before the House Homeland Security Committee to answer questions about current immigration enforcement operations across the country.

During his allotted time, Swalwell described meeting a woman who works at a bodega and said she told him she was afraid to walk to her car at midnight when her shift ends.

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According to Swalwell, the woman feared that a vehicle full of ICE agents might “screech into the parking lot and grab her.”

He said she was too afraid to give her name and asked how she could distinguish between criminals and an “unidentified van” with men “wearing all black, and their faces covered, and they don’t have any identification.”

Lyons rejected the characterization, stating that ICE agents do not operate in that manner.

“Sir, ICE agents have identifiable placards on their uniforms,” he said, and added that they also wear their badges.

“But you won’t see ICE agents rolling through the parking lots and just snatching someone up. ICE does intelligence-driven, targeted enforcement operations.”

Carolla later addressed the hearing on his show and directed pointed criticism at Swalwell.

“Swalwell is such a fucking douche,” Carolla said.

“When women do this, I kind of go, ‘Alright, a little theater.’ When guys do it, I go, ‘What a p*ssy. What a p*ssy!’ And for me, I would rather deal with a violent alcoholic dude than a p*ssy. Pussies are the worst dudes. They’re the fucking worst. And Swalwell’s a p*ssy. And this is a puss move right here.”

Carolla said he did not believe Swalwell’s account of the bodega worker and stated that he believed the story was fabricated.

🚨NEW: Adam Carolla *NUKES* Eric Swalwell🚨

“Swalwell is such a f*cking DOUCHE! … What a P*SSY! And for me, I would rather deal with a violent alcoholic dude than a p*ssy. P*ssies are THE WORST dudes. They’re the f*cking worst! And Swalwell’s a P*SSY!”@DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/nl7kfyvYrL

— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) February 12, 2026

The hearing also included a discussion of a separate case involving a five-year-old child, Liam Conejo Ramos.

Swalwell displayed a photo of the boy and asserted that ICE had “arrested” him, asking Lyons whether he would resign because his agency had “arrested” a child.

Lyons declined to resign and disputed the claim.

“Because, sir, that child that you’re showing right there, the men and women of ICE took care of him when his father abandoned him and ran from law enforcement,” Lyons said.

The Department of Homeland Security previously outlined the circumstances surrounding the case.

According to DHS, “On January 20, ICE conducted a targeted operation to arrest Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias an illegal alien from Ecuador who was released into the U.S. by the Biden administration.”

“As agents approached the driver Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot—abandoning his child. For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias. Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates,” DHS added.

DHS also stated, “This is consistent with past administration’s immigration enforcement. Parents can take control of their departure and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way.”

The hearing and subsequent commentary have added to the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement practices and how they are portrayed in congressional proceedings.