Lawmakers threaten to impeach Kristi Noem after two fatal shootings involving federal agents
Top Democrats in the House of Representatives have threatened to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the weekend killing of a man by federal agents in Minneapolis unless President Donald Trump fires her.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his representatives Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar said in a joint statement Tuesday that the violence unleashed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “must end immediately” and that Noem should be fired immediately, with a warning that if she is not removed, she will begin impeachment proceedings in the House. The matter was manageable “easy or hard way,” they added.
The ultimatum followed a wave of criticism after a majority of House Democrats signed on to articles of impeachment introduced earlier this month over the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both US citizens killed by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents in Minneapolis. The incidents, part of increasingly aggressive immigration operations in the city, have intensified Homeland Security scrutiny and calls for Noem’s removal.
Pressure has also mounted from some Republican lawmakers, who have joined calls for her to resign.
The Democratic impeachment effort, led by Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois, attracted 162 co-sponsors, with 51 Democrats added since Pretti’s killing, according to congressional records. No Republicans have yet joined the impeachment effort, though dozens have called for an investigation into the shooting.
Minneapolis saw days of demonstrations after Minnesota’s controversial enforcement of federal immigration law. DHS has deployed thousands of agents in its largest internal operation to arrest illegal immigrants to date.
Trump defended Noema on Wednesday, suggesting her job was not in immediate danger. Asked as he was leaving the White House if Noem would resign, he said: “No,” and later told Fox News that he trusted her and said he did “closed border” and calls effort a “A huge success.”
Indictments of US cabinet officials are rare. Two years ago, the Republican-led House of Representatives impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the Biden administration’s border and immigration policies, but the Senate rejected the charges. Before that, the only member of the government ever to be indicted was Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876, who was also acquitted.
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