Democrats Demand Accountability
Democratic lawmakers are ramping up their calls for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment following two recent incidents involving federal immigration agents. The tragic shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by an ICE officer on Wednesday, along with injuries to two individuals in Oregon caused by a Border Patrol agent the following day, has led to accusations against Noem of creating a hostile environment within immigration enforcement agencies.
Representative Robin Kelly from Illinois has announced her intention to file articles of impeachment against Noem, citing charges of obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. Fellow Illinois Representative Bradley Schneider criticized Noem for her failure to establish proper oversight and standards for ICE operations. Additionally, Representative John Larson from Connecticut called for her resignation after she referred to Good as a domestic terrorist, which he described as misleading to the public.
The Department of Homeland Security dismissed the impeachment threats as “silly during a serious time,” highlighting a staggering 1,300% increase in assaults against ICE officers. The department accused Kelly of focusing on “showmanship and fundraising clicks” rather than addressing crime in her Chicago district, asserting that Noem is dedicated to safeguarding American citizens.
Although Democrats currently lack the House majority necessary to pursue impeachment proceedings, this issue may become a significant campaign topic leading up to the midterm elections in November. Should Democrats regain control, the possibility of impeachment could be revisited.
Noem, who previously served as a House member and is now the governor of South Dakota, has been actively involved in the administration’s immigration policies. She visited Minneapolis on Tuesday—the day before Good’s shooting—to discuss an increase in immigration officers. On the day of the incident, she was in Brownsville, Texas, announcing border security measures before returning to Minneapolis for an evening press conference. By Thursday, she was in New York promoting enforcement initiatives.
When questioned about the most challenging aspects of her role on Wednesday, Noem stated that “nothing’s hard about this job,” expressing her enjoyment in solving problems and facing challenges.
The role of Homeland Security Secretary has historically been fraught with difficulties. During Donald Trump’s first term, Kirstjen Nielsen was ousted amid frustrations over policy decisions; Chad Wolf’s acting appointment was later deemed illegal by federal judges. President Biden’s appointee Alejandro Mayorkas became the first sitting Cabinet official impeached in 2024; however, Senate proceedings dismissed those charges without trial.
A September YouGov poll indicated that Noem holds a 33% approval rating—10 percentage points lower than her disapproval rating—placing her near the bottom among top officials from Trump’s administration.
