Noem Faces Scrutiny in Senate Hearing Over ICE Shootings and Leadership
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday as lawmakers from both parties questioned her leadership, spending practices, and initial characterization of Alex Pretti and Renee Excellent, who were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, as “domestic terrorists.” The hearing marked Noem’s first appearance before the committee since the January shootings.
Republican Criticism of Noem’s Leadership
Some of the most pointed criticism came from Republican senators. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) delivered a scathing assessment of Noem’s leadership, stating, “What we’ve seen is a disaster under your leadership, Ms. Noem, a disaster.” He questioned the circumstances surrounding the shootings of Good and Pretti, suggesting an investigation might reveal they “probably should not have been shot in the face and in the back.” Tillis accused Noem and Stephen Miller, a Trump advisor, of prioritizing deportation quotas over investigating the actions of ICE agents involved in the Minnesota shootings, stating, “We just want numbers…Quality matters.”
Defense of “Domestic Terrorist” Label and ICE Operations
Noem defended her initial statements labeling Good and Pretti as “domestic terrorists,” attributing the characterization to early reports from agents on the scene. She described the situation in Minneapolis as “chaotic” but did not apologize for the phrase or retract it. She maintained that ICE officers face “serious and escalating threats” due to what she called “deliberate mischaracterizations” of their work. Noem also stood by President Trump’s mass deportation agenda, asserting that ICE is focusing on the “worst of the worst.” However, a recent report by the Cato Institute found that only 5% of ICE detainees have been convicted of violent offenses, and three-fourths have no criminal convictions at all. https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/immigration/ice-detainers-who-are-they-detaining
Questions Regarding Spending and Potential Conflicts of Interest
Lawmakers also raised concerns about Noem’s spending decisions. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) questioned a $200 million ad campaign promoting immigration enforcement, awarded to a firm led by a friend of Noem’s. He expressed concern that the contract was not competitively bid. Noem defended the campaign, stating it was directed by President Trump and had been “extremely effective” in deterring illegal immigration, and claimed she “didn’t have anything to do with picking those contractors.”
Luxury Jet Purchases and Polling Location Concerns
The committee also questioned Noem about the purchase of two Gulfstream G700 jets at a combined cost of $200 million. https://abcnews.com/Politics/noem-face-2-days-grilling-capitol-hill-ice/story?id=130681610 She argued the purchases were authorized by Congress for executive travel and deportation operations. Senator Chris Coons pressed Noem about previous statements regarding plans to station ICE officers at polling locations in November, to which she responded that her department had no such plan but did not rule it out entirely.
Calls for Accountability and Impeachment
Democrats accused Noem of overseeing “thuggish” and “illegal” enforcement tactics and demanded independent investigations into several incidents. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) cited an incident in Chicago where immigration agents shot U.S. Citizen Marimar Martinez, raising concerns about mishandled evidence. Over 180 lawmakers have co-sponsored articles of impeachment against Noem, and Senators Tillis and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have called for her resignation or impeachment. Tillis stated that Noem’s responses to the committee amounted to stonewalling.
Shutdown and Security Concerns
The hearing took place amid a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, triggered by a standoff between Senate Democrats and the administration over immigration enforcement practices. Lawmakers expressed concerns about the security risks of leaving the department unfunded, particularly given mounting tensions in Iran. Noem decried the shutdown as “reckless” and “unnecessary,” accusing Democrats of jeopardizing U.S. Security.