A trio of Democratic representatives in the United States Congress have launched a formal bid to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, escalating a political firestorm ignited by the fatal shooting of a US citizen by an immigration agent.
Impeachment Push Follows Fatal Minneapolis Shooting
The move, led by Illinois Democrat Robin Kelly, comes amid intense national scrutiny over the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good. Good was shot and killed at the wheel of her car on a residential street in Minneapolis last week by an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Kelly will be joined by progressive colleagues Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Maxine Dexter of Oregon in filing three articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem on Wednesday. The representatives hail from states where federal agents have been involved in recent shootings of residents.
While the Trump administration and Noem have labelled the incident an act of "domestic terrorism" by a "professional agitator," this narrative has been fiercely challenged. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the shooting as a reckless abuse of power and demanded federal agents leave the city, a request met with the dispatch of more officers, heightening local tensions.
Charges of Obstruction and Violating Public Trust
The impeachment articles level serious accusations against the Homeland Security chief. They charge Noem with willfully obstructing congressional oversight by withholding funds approved by lawmakers and repeatedly blocking them from accessing DHS facilities.
Further, the document alleges a severe violation of the public's trust. This is tied to the alleged authorisation of "warrantless arrests" and the use of "violence against US citizens and lawful individuals." A third article accuses Noem of self-dealing, claiming she "inappropriately" used taxpayer money to fund an ICE recruitment ad campaign. The lucrative $200 million recruitment contract was reportedly awarded to a firm run by the husband of a senior DHS official and chief spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin.
This is not the first impeachment attempt against Noem; late last year, fellow Illinois Democrat Delia Ramirez moved to impeach her during an immigration crackdown in Chicago.
Democratic Divisions and a DHS Rebuke
The push exposes divisions within the Democratic party on how to counter the administration's increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics. House Democratic leaders have not endorsed Kelly's effort, which stands little chance in the Republican-controlled chamber.
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, while calling Noem "completely and totally unqualified" and saying she should be "run out of town," questioned on Monday whether impeachment was "the best way to accomplish that objective." Other Democrats are exploring using upcoming government funding deadlines to restrict ICE's powers and budget.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a sharp rebuke, with a spokesperson criticising the move as "silly during a serious time." The statement highlighted a 1,300% increase in assaults against ICE officers and accused Representative Kelly of prioritising "showmanship and fundraising clicks" over addressing crime in her Chicago district.
The political manoeuvre echoes the 2024 impeachment of Joe Biden's DHS Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, by House Republicans—a move some in the GOP warned was politically motivated. The Senate later dismissed those charges. For Noem to be removed, the impeachment would require a majority House vote and a two-thirds majority in the Senate to convict.
