By Gloria Ogbonna
A growing number of House Democrats are rallying behind a formal effort to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, an incident that has ignited fierce debate over federal law enforcement practices, accountability and executive power.
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) announced she is moving forward with articles of impeachment against Noem, accusing the DHS secretary of serious misconduct and failures in leadership. Kelly said she is pursuing impeachment on three specific grounds: obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. In a sharply worded statement, Kelly declared, “Secretary Kristi Noem is an incompetent leader, a disgrace to our democracy, and I am impeaching her for obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing.”
Kelly framed her decision as part of a broader pattern of alleged constitutional violations under Noem’s leadership. “From Chicago to Charlotte to Los Angeles to Minneapolis, Secretary Noem is violating the Constitution while ruining and ending lives, and separating families,” she said.
While acknowledging that incompetence and dangerous policies are deeply concerning, Kelly stressed that crossing the line into illegality is what makes impeachment necessary. “It’s impeachable to break the rule of law,”
She added, noting that she had previously promised her constituents she would actively oppose Noem’s agenda. “I told my constituents and Chicagoans that I would fight against Secretary Noem’s agenda. This is me fighting back.”
What was once an impeachment push largely confined to progressive Democrats has now begun to gain momentum among centrist lawmakers and party leaders.
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said there is a “rising clamor” within the Democratic caucus for serious oversight and accountability following what he described as a “nightmare” incident in Minneapolis.
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), chair of the New Democrat Coalition, went further, stating that Noem “must resign or be removed,” and signaling his willingness to back impeachment proceedings if President Donald Trump fails to take action.
The controversy centers on the killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed after allegedly using her vehicle to interfere with an ICE operation. Supporters of the agent involved argue the shooting was legally justified.
Breitbart News contributor Randy Clark, a 32-year law enforcement veteran, wrote that the incident appeared to meet the standards outlined in ICE’s 2023 Use of Force policy. That policy allows for deadly force when an officer has a reasonable belief of imminent danger.
Clark pointed to preliminary video evidence showing Good’s vehicle moving toward the agent, arguing that the use of force could be considered “objectively reasonable” from the officer’s perspective. He also emphasized that the policy does not require officers to exhaust alternative measures if no safe or feasible option exists.
Secretary Noem has firmly defended the agent’s actions, asserting that Good used her vehicle as a weapon and posed a direct threat to federal officers. She controversially labeled the incident an act of “domestic terrorism” and insisted that it falls exclusively under federal jurisdiction, rejecting calls for state or local authorities to take part in the investigation.
A DHS spokesperson further claimed that ICE officers are facing unprecedented danger, citing a reported 1,300 percent increase in assaults against agents.
Critics within the Democratic Party argue that the shooting is only the latest example of systemic problems at DHS under Noem’s leadership. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), who first called for Noem’s impeachment in December 2025, has accused the secretary of misusing federal funds, obstructing congressional oversight, and violating ethical and legal standards.
Ramirez has also criticized Noem’s handling of deportation cases and the use of chemical agents in cities where courts had imposed restrictions.
Following the Minneapolis shooting, Ramirez told Axios that the political calculus has shifted dramatically. “The world has changed. A white woman, a mother of three, was shot in the face and killed,” she said, adding that she has heard directly from swing-district lawmakers who now believe decisive action is unavoidable.
“We’ve got to do something, she’s got to go,” Ramirez said, predicting that calls for Noem’s removal would continue to grow.
Several Democratic lawmakers have already joined Kelly in backing the impeachment articles, including Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN), Sean Casten (D-IL), Betty McCollum (D-MN), among others. In the Senate, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has raised serious concerns about Noem’s credibility and called for an independent investigation that includes Minnesota authorities.
Schiff argued that “Minnesota has a right” to participate in the investigation and sharply criticized Noem for labeling the victim a domestic terrorist “without any evidence.” He described Noem as “a reckless mouthpiece for the administration.”
Other Democrats echoed concerns about the administration’s broader approach to law enforcement. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) argued that the Trump administration has fostered a culture that prioritizes aggression over de-escalation.
Under such an approach, he said, the Minneapolis shooting “was inevitable,” adding that the administration “turns everything into a war in which violence and testosterone and aggression are the only solutions.”
Still, not all Democrats are ready to move directly to impeachment. Some have urged caution, emphasizing the need for a formal investigation before taking such a consequential step. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) said he would not support impeachment articles without first completing a thorough inquiry.
Rep. John Mannion (D-NY) echoed that sentiment, calling for hearings and a comprehensive investigation. Others, including Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), have rejected the idea outright.
With Republicans holding the House majority, Democrats openly acknowledge that removing Noem through impeachment would be an uphill battle. “We can’t do any hearings without Republican support,” Raskin admitted, underscoring the political obstacles ahead.
The Minneapolis shooting also occurred against the backdrop of a separate DHS-led investigation into alleged childcare fraud in Minnesota. Federal agents are reportedly examining dozens of facilities accused of misusing federal funds.
Secretary Noem had publicly highlighted the fraud probe just days before the shooting, announcing that Homeland Security Investigations agents were conducting a “massive investigation” into childcare and other alleged fraud schemes.
She also posted videos of agents inspecting suspected sites—one of which drew online attention for a sign misspelling “learning” as “learing.”
As scrutiny of DHS intensifies, the Minneapolis incident has become a flashpoint in a much broader debate over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and accountability at the highest levels of government one that is likely to shape the political landscape in the months ahead.
Source: Breitbart
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