Kristi Noem Faces Protests, Calls to Resign in Fiery Congress Hearing/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem staunchly defended the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies in a tense congressional hearing Thursday. Facing sharp criticism and calls to resign from Democrats, Noem vowed to continue mass deportations and strict enforcement. The hearing was marked by protests, partisan clashes, and concerns about civil rights violations.
Kristi Noem Defends Trump Border Crackdown: Quick Looks
- Noem testifies at House Homeland Security Committee hearing
- Defends strict immigration enforcement and mass deportations
- Protesters interrupt with chants of “Stop ICE raids”
- Democrats demand resignation, citing civil rights concerns
- Detention of American citizens raises alarm among lawmakers
- FBI and Counterterrorism Center focus on non-immigration threats
- $165B budget used to expand deportations and border wall
- Judge investigates Noem’s migrant flights to El Salvador
Kristi Noem Faces Protests, Calls to Resign in Congress Fiery Hearing
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a fiery defense of the Trump administration’s immigration policies Thursday during a high-profile congressional hearing that quickly became a political battleground over the future of U.S. border enforcement.
Appearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Noem faced blistering criticism from Democrats, interruptions from protesters demanding an end to ICE raids, and applause from Republican lawmakers praising her loyalty to President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda.
“We will never yield. We will never waver, and we will never back down,” Noem declared during her opening statement. “We’re ending illegal immigration, returning sanity to our immigration system.”
The hearing, typically used to examine broad national security threats, was dominated this year by the administration’s escalating immigration crackdown, with little focus on traditional security topics such as terrorism, cybersecurity, or foreign adversaries.
Noem Faces Demands to Resign
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, accused Noem of diverting essential resources toward mass deportations and failing to cooperate with congressional oversight efforts.
“I call on you to resign,” Thompson said. “Do a real service to the country.”
Noem did not directly address the resignation call, instead reiterating her administration’s commitment to “finding those people who shouldn’t be in this country to begin with.”
A Controversial Enforcement Strategy
Since Trump’s return to the White House in January, immigration enforcement has intensified dramatically:
- Detention numbers have surged, with thousands of new arrests weekly
- Deportations have expanded to include removal to third countries, not just origin nations
- In response to the shooting of two National Guard troops, allegedly by an Afghan national, Noem’s agency has implemented more aggressive screening protocols
Critics argue these measures are less about public safety and more about political posturing.
Protesters Disrupt Proceedings
As Noem testified, protesters interrupted the hearing, chanting “Stop ICE raids” and “End deportations” before being removed by Capitol Police.
This isn’t the first time her policies have drawn public protest. Immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and Chicago have triggered nationwide backlash, with accusations of rights violations and excessive force.
Civil Rights Concerns
Noem is also under fire for allegations that U.S. citizens have been wrongfully detained in the administration’s rush to deport undocumented immigrants.
Additionally, multiple Democratic lawmakers involved in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security claim Noem and her team have restricted access to ICE detention facilities, raising transparency concerns.
Budget Boost and Legal Trouble
In July, Congress allocated $165 billion to DHS under Trump’s immigration-focused agenda. The funding will support:
- Hiring 10,000 new deportation officers
- Continuing construction of the border wall
- Detaining and removing non-citizens at an accelerated pace
Meanwhile, Noem is under legal scrutiny herself. A federal judge is weighing whether she should be held in contempt over controversial flights that transferred migrants to El Salvador, allegedly without proper legal review.
FBI and Counterterrorism Center Shift Focus
Joining Noem at the hearing were Joseph Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Michael Glasheen, head of the FBI’s national security operations.
Glasheen outlined a range of threats including:
- Cyberattacks by foreign actors
- Terrorism plots
- Online exploitation of children
- Foreign intelligence operations
Notably, immigration was not listed among the top threats, underscoring a disconnect between Noem’s priorities and those of national security officials.
FBI Director Absent from Testimony
FBI Director Kash Patel, originally expected to testify, was absent, prompting further Democratic criticism.
“I can’t help but notice Patel’s absence,” Rep. Thompson noted.
Late Wednesday, Patel posted on social media that he was in Brussels for a NATO meeting, a move critics saw as symbolic of the FBI’s shifting focus away from domestic immigration debates.
Conclusion
Thursday’s hearing underscored the deep political divide surrounding immigration policy under the Trump administration. With massive funding, legal battles, and civil liberties questions mounting, Kristi Noem’s role at the helm of Homeland Security is under intense scrutiny.
While Republicans continue to defend her as a tough enforcer of the law, Democrats are increasingly framing her as a symbol of excess and overreach in a system that many argue is in dire need of reform.
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