WASHINGTON — With the support of nearly 70 colleagues, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) on Wednesday introduced three articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The first accuses Noem of obstruction of Congress, for denying lawmakers access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities to provide oversight. The second accuses her of violating public trust, for directing DHS agents to arrest people without warrants and for ignoring due process. The third accuses her of self-dealing, for secretly steering a federal contract to a firm run by her friend.
It is time to hold Noem accountable for “her reign of terror” in cities across the country, Kelly told reporters.
“Secretary Noem has called my impeachment effort ‘silly,’” she said. “I want to tell her right now, Secretary Noem, you have violated your oath of office, and there will be consequences. I am watching you. Members of Congress are watching you. The American people, most importantly, are watching you.”
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), a co-sponsor of the effort, was more blunt.
“This agency thinks it’s above the law,” she fumed. “The most fundamental principle and value for the American people is fairness and humane policies, not beating the shit out of people.”
The list will almost certainly grow, but the names of all the Democrats currently cosponsoring Kelly’s impeachment resolution are here.
A DHS spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Asked if House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) supports their effort to proceed with impeachment proceedings against Noem, Kelly said her staff has spoken with his staff.
“I would not be standing here if I was told not to do it,” she said.
The math, of course, isn’t in Democrats’ favor. Republicans control the House, and any momentum to move forward with impeachment proceedings against Noem would require the support of all Democrats and at least some GOP members.
Kelly said she recognizes that, but that Democrats “need to use every tool in our toolbox” to hold the Trump administration accountable.
“If we do nothing, nothing will happen,” she said.
Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), also a co-sponsor of Kelly’s resolution, said now is not the time to be cynical about Democrats’ chances of forcing the issue.
“If we are cynical that nobody is going to join or we’re not going to get it passed, nothing happens,” said Dexter. “We have to continue to message what’s right.”
She said she held a town hall over the weekend, days after an ICE agent fatally shot an American citizen in Minneapolis, and constituents delivered “standing, perpetual applause for impeaching Kristi Noem.”
“The people want us to do something,” she said. “That’s our job.”
In order to impeach Noem, House Democrats would need to secure a simple majority, or 218 votes, in favor of impeaching her. This process typically begins with an investigation in the House Judiciary Committee, of which Kelly is not a member.
If the House actually impeached Noem, Senate Republican leaders would then have to agree to hold a trial, and that chamber would need a two-thirds supermajority, or 67 votes, to convict and remove Noem from office.
“The most fundamental principle and value for the American people is fairness and humane policies, not beating the shit out of people.”
- Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.)
House and Senate Democrats have been demanding reforms at DHS in the aftermath of the Minneapolis shooting, which is just the latest incident involving violence being perpetuated by ICE agents in cities nationwide.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus, which includes nearly 100 House Democrats, announced Tuesday that its members will oppose any new funding for DHS until “meaningful” reforms are made, though they didn’t give specifics. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is working on a bill that outlines specific reforms at ICE, like banning ICE agents from wearing masks and requiring Border Patrol agents to be at the border. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) unveiled legislation Wednesday that would redirect roughly $75 billion in federal funding from ICE and send it to local law enforcement programs.
Some Democrats, like Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), have called for completely overhauling ICE. Recent polling shows more Americans support abolishing ICE than they did before Trump retook the White House, a major shift in public opinion over the past six months.
Asked if Democrats are considering a push to abolish ICE entirely, Kelly didn’t say no.
“All options are on the table,” she said.
For all their vows to rein in Noem and ICE, House Democrats don’t seem to be on the same page about how to do it.
At a press event later Wednesday, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, announced that Democrats on this panel will begin their own work of holding Noem “accountable.”
He previewed a much more drawn-out process of looking into Noem’s actions, describing Democratic committee members visiting communities all over the country and talking to people about their experiences with DHS agents, collecting data and testimony.
“ICE, as well as FEMA, and some other areas will be looked at,” said Thompson, with committee members standing alongside him. “Nothing is off the table. But accountability is the key of what we’re talking about.”
Asked about Kelly’s impeachment push, the Mississippi Democrat said some lawmakers “have already reached a decision” on action they want to take against Noem. “But from the standpoint of the committee as a whole, we’re looking at accountability,” he said.
Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), one of the judiciary panel Democrats at Thompson’s press event, took things in yet another direction by announcing his plans to try to abolish ICE.
“ICE is beyond reform. ICE is totally out of control,” Thanedar said. “This week, I intend to introduce a bill to abolish ICE. We need to make ICE go away.”
When the event ended, a reporter shouted a question to Thompson as he was walking away about whether he supported Thanedar’s call for abolishing ICE.
He kept walking.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of votes needed in the Senate for an impeachment conviction. It is 67.