Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to testify on the Trump administration’s immigration raids in Minneapolis. File Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to testify on the Trump administration’s immigration raids in Minneapolis.
The department is under an ongoing partial shutdown due to a funding lapse from Congress failing to agree on a stopgap funding plan last month. Noem is expected to face questions about operating during the shutdown in light of the United States launching joint strikes with Israel against Iran.
Tuesday’s testimony is Noem’s first since December when the Minneapolis raids began. Since then, immigration officers killed two civilians, U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the chairman of the committee, said immigration agents made “mistakes” but added that “officers should never be threatened or harmed while enforcing our laws.”
“There is a clear difference between conduct protected by the First Amendment and unlawful obstruction,” Grassley said in his opening statement.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chided Noem for taking so long to appear before the committee.
“Madam secretary, under your leadership, the Homeland Security Department has been devoid of any moral compass or respect for the rule of law,” Durbin said. “Without hesitation or remorse, DHS agents have wreaked havoc on our cities.”
Durbin continued, saying the department’s actions, including in Chicago, have harmed public trust. He said family members of people who have been detained or deported were in attendance for Tuesday’s hearing.
This week in Washington
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to the press after receiving a closed-door briefing on the war in Iran at the U.S. Capitol on Monday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
