Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives at a Senate Budget Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on May 8, 2025 (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives filed three articles of impeachment Wednesday against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after a woman was fatally shot by an immigration agent in Minneapolis.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to States Newsroom’s request for comment.
The three charges were introduced by Illinois Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly. Nearly 70 Democrats have co-signed, but as the minority party in both chambers, there will likely only be support or movement for the articles if Democrats win the midterm elections and swing the House vote.
“She needs to be held accountable for her actions,” Kelly said. “Renee Nicole Good is dead because Secretary Noem allowed her DHS agents to run amok.”
On January 7, 37-year-old Renee Good was shot and killed by Federal immigration agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. Federal immigration officials have tightened immigration enforcement, sparking massive opposition from local populations and protests across the country.
Kelly’s articles accuse Noem of obstructing Congress after lawmakers were denied oversight visits to DHS facilities housing immigrants. Violations of public trust through due process, violations of the rights of U.S. citizens and immigrants, and aggressive warrantless arrests in immigration enforcement; and the misuse of $200 million in taxpayer funds Awarding a contract to a company led by the husband of DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, according to ProPublica.
A dozen members of Congress have sued Noem over the denial of visits to ICE facilities to carry out oversight, and won a stay of the policy from a federal judge. But Noem issued a up-to-date policy and this past weekend several lawmakers in Minnesota were barred from visiting ICE facilities.
A federal judge is currently exploring to see whether Noem’s up-to-date policy violates her December court order.
Kelly was joined by several Democrats, including Angie Craig of Minnesota, who represents a swing district.
“We are being terrorized by Homeland Security and ICE,” Craig said. “This has crossed a line. This rogue agency is violating the rights of American citizens in our communities, and last Wednesday … Renee Good was killed by ICE’s escalation in our communities.”
If the House of Representatives takes such action, Noem would not be the only homeland secretary to be impeached.
In 2024 Republicans accused Biden administration DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, saying he lied to Congress about the southern border being secure and that he neglected his duty when he reversed several Trump-era immigration policies.
The Senate, then controlled by Democrats, dismissed the charges.
