Democratic Lawmakers Escalate Calls For Kristi Noem's Impeachment: 'She Has Abjectly Failed'

Democratic lawmakers are escalating calls for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, arguing that a series of violent encounters involving federal immigration officers reflects systemic failures within the department she leads.

The renewed push follows the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis last week, as well as the wounding of two people by a Border Patrol agent in Oregon a day later. Lawmakers say the incidents have intensified concerns about what they describe as a confrontational enforcement culture under Noem's leadership.

"The killing of Renee Good is not simply the result of one officer's actions," Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois told The Washington Times. "As secretary of homeland security, Kristi Noem is responsible for setting the standards and oversight that govern ICE operations. She has abjectly failed in that responsibility."

Illinois Rep. Robin Kelly announced hours after the Minneapolis shooting that she plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Noem, accusing her of obstruction of justice, violation of public trust and self-dealing, adding that Noem had violated constitutional limits and abused her authority, calling her conduct "impeachable."

Several Democrats have said they would support impeachment if Noem does not resign, while others have urged further investigation before moving forward. Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin told Axios over the weekend that there was a "rising clamor for oversight and potentially impeachment" following what he described as a "nightmare" set of events. The news site added that even some centrist and swing-district Democrats are now open to impeachment discussions, though many acknowledge that any effort faces long odds with Republicans controlling the House.

In a statement to Axios responding to Kelly's announcement, the department dismissed the impeachment effort as "silly during a serious time," arguing that lawmakers should focus instead on what it said was a sharp rise in assaults against immigration officers.

Noem also brushed aside the criticism in an interview with Fox News over the weekend, saying she remained focused on her job and defending her public statements about the incidents. "Every single thing that I've said has been factual," she said.