Can Kristi Noem be impeached after the Minneapolis shootings?

In less than a month, two US citizens were killed by federal agents on the streets of Minneapolis. What began as an immigration operation launched by the White House ended up becoming a national political crisis. Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, has been singled out as the main person responsible and now faces calls for her resignation and even impeachment.

The death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse shot by federal agents during an intervention on public roads, deepened a crisis that had been brewing since the beginning of the month, following the killing of Renée Good in similar circumstances. For Democrats, both episodes reveal a pattern of abuse by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.

The impact was immediate in the House of Representatives. Support for the articles of impeachment against Noem, spearheaded by Congresswoman Robin Kelly of Illinois, skyrocketed over the weekend, reaching more than 140 signatures, nearly two-thirds of the Democratic caucus. The list was joined by high-profile figures such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, figures close to the party leadership, and representatives from competitive districts who had so far avoided confrontation with the White House.

But even though Noem can be impeached (only if some Republicans agree), it is unlikely that she will be removed, as Republicans maintain a majority in Congress. However, impeachment serves more as a strategy to keep Noem under constant scrutiny, in addition to forcing the Department of Homeland Security to answer questions about its operations, which would fuel public pressure on ICE and the Border Patrol.

Another strategy

Meanwhile, Democrats have also opened a formal investigation in the House, without Republican support. The goal is not to remove Noem, which would be unlikely in a Republican-controlled Congress, but to document what happened, gather evidence, and take a clear political stance.

Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, said investigating Noem is a sign that the party is not willing to “sit on our thumbs” in the face of what it considers an unprecedented domestic crisis. The investigation would also serve as a basis for eventual legislative reforms if Democrats regain the majority in the midterm elections in November.

In the Senate, Jacky Rosen became the first senator to openly call for Noem’s removal, accusing her of misleading the public about the circumstances of the shooting. Other senators, including some Republicans, began calling for independent investigations and more aggressive oversight hearings.

Noem, for her part, will have to face questions directly. She is scheduled to appear on March 3 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, a hearing that promises to be dominated by debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the use of force by federal agents. Both the House and Senate plan to call other senior ICE and Border Patrol officials to testify.

Meanwhile, the conflict has shifted to the budget issue. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which is part of a key package to avoid a partial government shutdown before January 30, has been thrown into doubt. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats will not allow the spending bill to move forward as long as the bill includes funding for ICE without substantial changes.

Department of Homeland Security officials have dismissed calls for impeachment as “showmanship” and accuse Democrats of prioritizing confrontation over public safety.

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