Kristi Noem Faces Impeachment Push From House Democrats/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing growing impeachment calls from House Democrats after ICE-related shootings in Minneapolis and Portland. Once seen as a fringe effort, impeachment is gaining traction among moderates, especially swing-district lawmakers. While chances remain slim under GOP control, Democratic leaders insist public outrage is mounting.
Kristi Noem Impeachment Momentum Quick Looks
- ICE shootings in Minneapolis and Portland intensified scrutiny
- Rep. Delia Ramirez: “She’s got to go”
- Rep. Jamie Raskin says there’s a rising push for oversight
- Centrist Democrats are openly considering impeachment
- Rep. Brad Schneider demands resignation or removal
- Rep. Robin Kelly plans to file impeachment articles
- Co-sponsors include Reps. Emily Randall and Yassamin Ansari
- AOC says she “wouldn’t rule out” signing on
- Others like Rep. Ted Lieu urge investigations first
- Some Democrats completely oppose the idea
- GOP control limits actual chances of removal
- Raskin: “Can’t hold hearings without Republican support”
- Public anger seen as a driving political force
- DHS response to impeachment calls: “How silly”
Kristi Noem Faces Impeachment Push From House Democrats
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — What began as a fringe effort among a handful of progressives is rapidly evolving into a mainstream Democratic campaign to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, following a pair of controversial immigration enforcement shootings that reignited national debate over the Trump administration’s tactics.
The push, long simmering under the surface since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House last January, reached a boiling point after Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a chaotic traffic stop. The next day, federal agents in Portland, Oregon, shot two Venezuelan nationals outside a hospital, intensifying calls for accountability.
For Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), one of the earliest voices demanding Noem’s impeachment, the events marked a clear shift.
“The world has changed,” she told Axios. “A white woman, a mother of three, was shot in the face and killed.” Ramirez said more Democrats — including swing-district members — are now seriously weighing impeachment.
House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) confirmed that calls for oversight and possible impeachment are growing louder in the wake of what he called “the nightmare in Minneapolis.”
Those calls took a formal turn Friday when Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), chair of the moderate New Democrat Coalition, stated that Noem must either resign or be removed.
“If President Trump refuses to act,” Schneider said, “I am prepared to support congressional action, up to and including impeachment.”
Several other moderate Democrats echoed his sentiment. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), a swing-district lawmaker, said Noem “shouldn’t be in the position in the first place” and would consult colleagues on next steps. Another unnamed member told Axios their team is already evaluating impeachment strategy.
Democratic momentum is not limited to talk. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), a member of House Democratic leadership and a Senate hopeful, announced plans to introduce formal articles of impeachment.
She accused Noem of “obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing.” DHS dismissed the effort, saying in a statement: “How silly during a serious time.”
Support for the impeachment articles is already growing, with Reps. Emily Randall (D-Wash.) and Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) both planning to co-sponsor Kelly’s resolution. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), when asked if she’d support the move, said she was reviewing it but “certainly wouldn’t rule it out.”
She added, “When it comes to impeachment, I think a lot of these folks are not fit for office.”
Still, not all Democrats are on board.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said he would not support any impeachment articles without a formal investigation first.
“Impeachment is a serious process,” he said. “We should make sure that we continue to be serious about that.”
Rep. John Mannion (D-N.Y.) agreed, emphasizing the need for thorough hearings.
“There should be a full investigation,” he said, adding that moving forward without one would be premature.
And some Democrats have outright rejected the notion.
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) offered a flat “No” when asked if he would support impeachment.
Despite the momentum building among Democrats, party leaders are aware of the steep odds of success. With Republicans controlling the House, the prospect of holding hearings or passing articles of impeachment is virtually nonexistent without bipartisan cooperation.
Raskin acknowledged the hurdle: “Of course, we can’t do any hearings without Republican support.” Still, he said public anger cannot be ignored, adding, “They’ve got to be hearing what we’re hearing — people are very outraged.”
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) echoed that sentiment, saying public frustration is growing, but warned against relying on GOP colleagues:
“I wouldn’t put a lot of faith on folks on the other side of the aisle on this.”
As public protests continue in response to the shootings, the political pressure on lawmakers is rising. The DHS’s refusal to fully cooperate with state investigations in Minnesota — and the agency’s framing of the shootings as justified acts of self-defense — has only deepened Democratic anger.
Noem, who was thrust into the spotlight as Homeland Security Secretary during Trump’s second term, has become a symbol of the administration’s aggressive immigration stance. But now, she may become a political liability — not only for her party but also for the administration’s broader narrative.
Whether impeachment moves forward or stalls, one thing is clear: the deaths linked to ICE enforcement actions have pushed Kristi Noem into the center of a growing firestorm on Capitol Hill.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.