Calls for Impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Intensify Amid Controversial Shootings
Outrage is growing in Congress following two fatal incidents involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, leading Rep. Greg Stanton to back the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Stanton, a Phoenix Democrat, emphasized the constitutional implications, stating, “This isn’t about policy. It’s about whether officials can ignore the Constitution and place themselves above the law. Impeachment exists for exactly this reason, and I will vote for it.”
As of Tuesday evening, 162 out of 213 House Democrats have signed on to the impeachment resolution introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois, including Stanton and fellow Arizonans Reps. Adelita Grijalva and Yassamin Ansari.
The resolution, filed on January 14, came a week after Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent. Impeachment in the House requires a simple majority vote, while the Senate necessitates a two-thirds majority, with Republicans holding the majority in both chambers.
The urgency for Secretary Noem’s removal has grown since Border Patrol officers shot and killed another Minneapolis resident, ICU nurse Alex Pretti, on Saturday. The incident has sparked further criticism and scrutiny of Noem’s leadership.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina became the first Senate Republican to advocate for President Donald Trump to dismiss Noem. Tillis remarked, “What she’s done in Minnesota should be disqualifying,” criticizing her actions as “amateurish” and detrimental to the president’s image. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania have also called for Noem’s dismissal, with Fetterman describing her as “grossly incompetent.”
Pretti was reportedly recording officers on his cellphone when a conflict arose after officers pushed a protester to the ground. Video evidence contradicts federal officials’ claims that Pretti, who had a concealed carry permit, posed a threat with his firearm, as he was disarmed and restrained when shot.
Amid escalating demands for more stringent oversight of immigration enforcement, House Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino announced a hearing scheduled for February 10, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol leaders will testify. He emphasized the need for “transparency and communication” to de-escalate tensions.
The impeachment articles accuse Noem of ordering unconstitutional actions such as warrantless arrests, the detention of U.S. citizens, and excessive force. She is also accused of misappropriating $200 million for an ICE recruitment campaign. The resolution highlights the killings in Minneapolis and other controversial actions, such as the use of tear gas during a Chicago children’s Halloween parade, which DHS justified as a necessary crowd control measure.
Additionally, Noem is accused of barring Congress members from entering immigration detention facilities, a charge echoed by Rep. Ansari. Her tenure has been marked by a staunch defense of the Trump administration’s deportation policies and the use of deadly force in recent incidents.
Noem has defended the fatal shooting of Pretti, claiming he threatened officers with a firearm, an assertion refuted by video evidence. Similarly, she characterized Good’s actions as “domestic terrorism,” alleging she attempted to attack an agent with her vehicle before being shot, a claim also contradicted by video.
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