US Lawmakers Threaten Impeachment Against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Top US House Democrats have issued an ultimatum to President Donald Trump, demanding the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem due to her handling of recent fatal shootings involving federal agents. The lawmakers have threatened to launch impeachment proceedings against Noem if she is not fired. The move comes after two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his deputies, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, stated that the violence unleashed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must end immediately and that Noem should be fired. They warned that impeachment proceedings would commence in the House if she is not removed, emphasizing that the matter could be handled “the easy way or the hard way.”
The criticism follows a wave of protests and demonstrations in Minneapolis, where the DHS has deployed thousands of agents in its largest interior operation to date, aimed at arresting illegal immigrants. The operation has intensified scrutiny of Homeland Security and calls for Noem’s removal, with some Republican lawmakers joining the chorus.
A Democratic impeachment push, led by Representative Robin Kelly of Illinois, has garnered 162 co-sponsors, with 51 Democrats adding their support since Pretti’s killing. While no Republicans have joined the impeachment effort, dozens have called for an investigation into the shooting.
President Trump has defended Noem, signaling that her job is not in immediate jeopardy. He expressed confidence in her, stating that she had “closed up the border” and calling the effort a “tremendous success.”
Impeachments of US cabinet officials are rare, with only two instances in history. The last impeachment was of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas two years ago, which was dismissed by the Senate. The only other cabinet member to be impeached was War Secretary William Belknap in 1876, who was also acquitted.
The situation is likely to escalate, with Democrats pushing for accountability and Republicans defending the administration’s immigration policies. The outcome of the impeachment threat remains uncertain, but it highlights the growing tensions between the Democratic-controlled House and the Trump administration.
