House Democrats Intensify Push to Impeach DHS Secretary Noem Amid Deadly ICE Controversy
Washington, January 27, 2026 — A growing impeachment movement against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is emerging in Congress as Democrats escalate their criticism of federal immigration enforcement following a series of controversial shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis and beyond.
Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives have issued a public ultimatum to President Donald Trump: either remove Noem from her post, or lawmakers will begin formal impeachment proceedings. The pressure comes after two U.S. citizens — including 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse — were fatally shot by federal agents during immigration operations in Minnesota, events that have ignited national outrage and scrutiny.
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) introduced articles of impeachment earlier this month, accusing Noem of obstructing Congress, violating the public trust and failing to exercise proper oversight of ICE operations. Those articles have rapidly gathered co-sponsors, with more than three-quarters of House Democrats now backing the effort — a sign of how intensely the party views the situation.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared that if Noem is not fired, Democrats are prepared to launch official impeachment proceedings once Congress reconvenes, emphasizing concerns about what they describe as lethal misconduct and a lack of accountability within the Department of Homeland Security.
The impeachment push also reflects broader frustration with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy in cities like Minneapolis, where protests have intensified and local leaders have called for federal forces to stand down. Video footage and eyewitness accounts have contradicted early federal statements about the shootings, further fueling bipartisan criticism.
Despite the mounting pressure from Democrats, President Trump and senior administration officials have publicly backed Noem, with the president saying she is doing a “very good job” and refusing to replace her. Some Republican lawmakers, including Senators Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis, have nonetheless expressed concerns about the incidents and urged a transparent investigation.
Noem’s impeachment faces steep odds in a Republican-controlled House and Senate, where achieving the votes needed for conviction remains unlikely. Still, the Democratic escalation marks a rare confrontation between Congress and a cabinet secretary over immigration policy and federal law enforcement conduct.
