Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have launched a formal effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This move comes in the wake of a fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent this week, an incident that has intensified scrutiny of the department's tactics.
A Growing Impeachment Push
The impeachment drive, while facing steep odds in the Republican-controlled chamber, serves as a potent political message. It channels anger from Americans who are outraged not only by the recent shooting but also by the Trump administration's broader strategy of deploying federal immigration agents to cities led by Democratic officials.
Representative Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Illinois, took the lead on Wednesday, coinciding with the day of the Minneapolis shooting. She filed three articles of impeachment accusing Secretary Noem of obstruction of Congress, violation of the public trust, and self-dealing.
"It’s one thing to be incompetent and dangerous," Kelly stated, "but it’s impeachable to break the rule of law."
Democratic Lawmakers Rally Behind the Effort
Kelly's effort has quickly gained support from other Democratic representatives. Those who have joined the call for impeachment include Reps. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, Kevin Mullin of California, Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, and Raja Krishnamoorthi and Brad Schneider, both of Illinois.
In an emotional speech on the House floor Friday, Rep. Stansbury declared, "To those of you that are continuing to provide cover for this lawless, unconstitutional, abusive and violent administration, shame on you. I will be joining to file articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem. Enough is enough."
The administration defends its surge of federal agents as a necessary measure to remove criminals from the United States. However, critics and local residents argue the operations have sown fear and violence, noting that many individuals detained or deported have no criminal record.
Prior Concerns Over Noem's Conduct
Concerns about Secretary Noem's conduct predate the recent tragic event. Last month, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) urged the House Judiciary Committee to investigate what she termed Noem's "potentially impeachable actions."
In a letter to committee leaders, Ramirez accused the Homeland Security secretary of misusing congressionally appropriated resources, repeatedly making false statements to lawmakers and the press, and undermining the constitutional separation of powers.
"Under Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has done irreversible harm to our constituents, trampling the rights of all people and disregarding the rule of law," Ramirez wrote. She concluded that Noem's actions, taken together, violate her oath of office.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the impeachment calls. The political standoff underscores the deep national divide over immigration policy and enforcement, setting the stage for continued conflict in Washington.
