On Wednesday, Democratic representative Robin Kelly formally introduced articles of impeachment against Donald Trump’s homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, following the tragic shooting of a U.S. citizen by an immigration agent in Minneapolis last week. During a press conference, Kelly stated, “Secretary Noem has brought her reign of terror to the Chicagoland area, LA, New Orleans, Charlotte, Durham, and communities from east to west.” She emphasized the need for accountability, asserting that “She needs to be held accountable for her actions.”
This new push for impeachment comes amidst growing national outrage over the death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman who was fatally shot while in her car on a residential street by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. This incident occurred during a period of heightened law enforcement presence across various U.S. cities. Kelly, an Illinois Democrat, has filed three articles of impeachment against Noem: obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. She claims to have the support of 70 members of Congress for this initiative.
The Trump administration has characterized the shooting incident as an act of “domestic terrorism” committed by a “professional agitator.” However, this narrative has been contested by video evidence and local officials. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the shooting as a "reckless use of power," calling for ICE to withdraw from the city. In response to escalating tensions between local residents and law enforcement officers, the administration has dispatched additional federal agents to the area.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security criticized Kelly, stating, “How silly during a serious time. As ICE officers face a 1,300% increase in assaults, Rep. Kelly is more focused on showmanship and fundraising clicks than actually cleaning up her crime-ridden Chicago district.” The spokesperson expressed hope that Kelly would prioritize the safety of American people, as the department aims to protect citizens under Secretary Noem's leadership.
In her defense, Kelly asserted, “You have violated your oath of office, and there will be consequences.” This is not the first impeachment effort against Noem; late last year, fellow Illinois Democrat Delia Ramirez attempted to impeach the secretary amid an immigration crackdown in Chicago. Ramirez accused Noem of willfully obstructing congressional oversight, withholding appropriated funds, and blocking lawmakers from entering DHS facilities.
The impeachment articles also claim Noem has violated public trust through “warrantless arrests” and “violence against U.S. citizens and lawful individuals.” Additionally, she faces allegations of self-dealing for allegedly misusing taxpayer dollars to fund an ad campaign for ICE recruitment, as well as awarding a $200 million recruitment contract to a firm run by the husband of a senior DHS official.
Despite growing anger among Democrats regarding the administration's escalated enforcement tactics, the party is divided on how to respond. Currently, House Democratic leaders have not endorsed Kelly’s impeachment initiative, which is unlikely to progress in the Republican-controlled House. Some Democrats are advocating for utilizing an upcoming government funding deadline to curb ICE's powers and reduce its funding.
As a candidate in a competitive Democratic primary to replace retiring Senator Dick Durbin in Illinois, Kelly has taken a more aggressive stance on this issue than party leadership. The Democratic minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, remarked, “We haven’t ruled anything in and we haven’t ruled anything out. Everything is on the table from the standpoint of complete and total accountability.” He described Noem as “completely and totally unqualified” but raised concerns about whether impeachment is the most effective way to achieve accountability.
In 2024, House Republicans previously impeached Joe Biden’s secretary of homeland security, Alejandro Mayorkas, marking a significant political shift. However, the Senate dismissed those charges on the grounds that they did not constitute a high crime or misdemeanor. It is important to note that impeachment requires a majority vote in the House to approve the charges and a two-thirds majority in the Senate for conviction and removal from office.