WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2026 — Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives formally introduced articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday, accusing her of abuse of power, violations of federal law and endangering public safety through aggressive immigration enforcement operations in Democratic-leaning cities.
The resolution, led by Representative Robin Kelly of Illinois and co-sponsored by more than 160 Democrats including Representatives Brad Sherman of California, Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California and Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, charges Ms. Noem with high crimes and misdemeanors. It cites the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti during federal “Operation Metro Surge” raids in Minneapolis this month, as well as broader allegations that agents under her command have engaged in racial profiling, warrantless arrests and excessive force while refusing to identify themselves.
“Secretary Noem has turned ICE into a domestic terror organization that operates above the law,” Mr. Sherman said during a press conference announcing the articles. “She is ignoring federal statutes, endangering American lives and abusing her authority for political purposes. This is not about immigration policy — it is about accountability when the government kills its own citizens.”
The move marks a significant escalation in Democratic criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, which has included large-scale deployments of masked federal agents to cities like Minneapolis, Chicago and Los Angeles. Ms. Noem has defended the operations as necessary to target criminal aliens and restore order in “lawless” jurisdictions, but critics argue the surges violate constitutional protections and state sovereignty.
The impeachment articles, while largely symbolic in a Republican-controlled House, have gained traction amid ongoing protests in Minneapolis and legal challenges from the ACLU and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. A federal lawsuit filed last week seeks to halt the surges, citing risks to public safety and First Amendment rights. Affidavits from witnesses, including a woman who filmed Mr. Pretti’s shooting, describe agents using pepper spray on bystanders and tackling individuals who were not resisting.
Republicans have dismissed the impeachment effort as partisan theater. A spokesperson for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise called it “frivolous and a waste of taxpayer resources,” arguing that ICE operations comply with federal law and target criminal activity. Ms. Noem’s office issued a statement rejecting the accusations as “baseless” and politically motivated, emphasizing that agents acted in self-defense during the Minneapolis incidents.
The resolution faces long odds of advancing. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the House to pass articles, but conviction in the Senate demands a two-thirds vote — a threshold unlikely to be met with Republicans holding the majority. Similar efforts against cabinet officials have rarely succeeded; the last successful impeachment of a cabinet secretary was in 1876, and the Senate failed to convict.
Still, the articles serve as a political signal ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democrats hope to frame the administration’s enforcement tactics as reckless overreach, while Republicans portray the push as an attempt to undermine border security. Public opinion remains divided: recent polls show roughly 45 percent of Americans approving of Mr. Trump’s immigration policies, with higher support among Republicans and lower among Democrats and independents.
The Minneapolis incidents have drawn national attention, with protests continuing and calls for body-camera footage and independent investigations. A federal judge has ordered preservation of evidence, and the Justice Department is reviewing the cases, though no criminal charges have been filed against the agents involved.
Ms. Noem has not commented directly on the impeachment articles but has maintained that federal agents are protecting communities from illegal immigration and crime. The White House referred questions to the department’s statements.
As the political battle intensifies, the impeachment effort may fade without a House vote, but the underlying tensions over federal power, immigration enforcement and accountability are likely to persist, shaping the national conversation through the 2026 election cycle.
