Top House Democrats have demanded that President Donald Trump fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem or face impeachment proceedings. The ultimatum follows the weekend killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, the second US citizen shot dead by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with deputies Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, issued a joint statement saying the violence must end. “Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives,” they said.
Two Republican senators have also called for Noem’s resignation. Retiring Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said her conduct “should be disqualifying”, while Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski stated the secretary “needs to be accountable”. Articles of impeachment, introduced by Democratic Representative Robin Kelly, have 162 co-sponsors among House Democrats.
In the Senate, Democrats have vowed to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless it excludes money for ICE. The standoff raises the risk of a partial government shutdown after Friday. Moderate Senator John Fetterman urged Trump to fire Noem, calling her “grossly incompetent”, while Elizabeth Warren said she should resign over Pretti’s death.
Noem is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3 March. Speculation about her future grew after Trump replaced the Border Patrol official overseeing the Minneapolis operation with “border czar” Tom Homan.
