Kristi Noem pressed on fatal Minnesota shootings in fiery hearing: recap

WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday testified before the House Judiciary Committee, defending her leadership as she faced rebukes from Democrats who decried the killings of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota and what they described as rampant lawlessness within the agency.

Noem said all DHS personnel operate within the confines of the law as she fielded questions about the detentions of American citizens, the purchase of a luxury plane for deportations and a nine-figure ad campaign that benefited a Republican consulting firm with ties to Noem and other DHS officials.

Noem refused to apologize to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good for labeling them domestic terrorists. And, under questioning, Noem denied that DHS is creating a database of American citizens protesting the conduct of federal immigration agents.

Republicans mostly applauded Noem for securing the southern U.S. border and directed criticism of immigration enforcement to the Biden administration.

The hearings come as her department is partially shut down because of a funding fight in Congress over immigration enforcement tactics. Democrats and some Republicans want Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and agents to stop wearing masks in public and for DHS to rescind a memo authorizing ICE to enter homes without a signed judicial warrant.

Noem wants World Cup money dispersed to cities ‘as soon as possible’

Christopher Cann

Kristi Noem said she would like to see nearly $900 million dispersed to cities hosting World Cup matches for security, but she said it's being held up by the ongoing DHS shutdown.

“We want those dollars to get out as soon as possible,” Noem said. “Of course, all of this is challenged by the fact the department isn’t funded and doesn’t have all of our employees working right now.”

The answer came after Rep. Derek Schmidt, R-Kansas, questioned why grant money has not yet been sent out less than 100 days from the start of the World Cup.

“Our law enforcement agencies really would like to be in a position where they know what the money is going to look like so they can make the preparations,” Schmidt said.

Florida lawmaker blasts Noem for her management of FEMA

Christopher Cann

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Florida, scolded Kristi Noem for her leadership of FEMA, accusing her of mismanaging the agency that provides critical disaster relief to states.

He alleged Noem held up funds by introducing a policy that requires all spending requests above $100,000 be personally approved by her. He also noted that FEMA has had three interim directors under Noem’s leadership.

“You have done the opposite of what President Trump wanted you to accomplish, which was to speed up the process,” he said. “Your policies have made the department slower. I didn’t think it was possible to make FEMA more bureaucratic but boy you have exceeded all my expectations.”

Noem has repeatedly defended her handling of the agency and said the requirement that spending requests get her approval is an effort to combat fraud.

Call for DHS to be 'dismantled'

Lauren Villagran

Rep. Jesús G. "Chuy" Garcia, an Illinois Democrat whose district includes Chicago, called for the Department of Homeland Security to be dismantled.

Calling out the violence and surveillance by immigration agents against American citizens, Garcia said the department "has been rogue and lawless since its inception in 2002."

The Department of Homeland Security was formed by Congress in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.

"DHS must be dismantled and the immigration system must be rebuilt from the bottom up," he said.

Democrat excoriates Noem for holding up North Carolina disaster relief funds

Josh Meyer

Democrat Rep. Deborah Ross excoriated Noem for holding up Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for residents of her state of North Carolina until after a Feb. 3 Senate hearing in which a Republican senator demanded that she approve them.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis accused Noem during a Tuesday oversight hearing of violating federal law by restricting disaster aid in ways that he said has blocked hurricane recovery efforts in the state. Ross said during the Feb. 4 House hearing that, “magically, about $80 million got released today, for which we’re thankful."

“But we shouldn't have to have a U.S. senator or a representative … come to you directly to get you to do your job,” Ross told Noem. “But we also know that you had time to sign off on the first purchase of two luxury private full screen jets for your personal travel.”

Noem replied that North Carolina has received “billions more” in federal disaster assistance under President Donald Trump than it did under the administration of former President Joe Biden.

Noem faces scrutiny over DHS ad contracts

Christopher Cann

Kristi Noem is increasingly facing scrutiny over a nine figure ad contract that benefited a Republican consulting firm with longstanding ties to Noem and others at the Department of Homeland Security.

Among the companies involved in the ad campaign was the Strategy Group, which previously worked for Noem when she ran for governor of South Dakota, is tied to her top adviser Corey Lewandowski and the company’s CEO is married to former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, who recently stepped down from her post.

About $143 million for an ad campaign went to Safe America Media, a Delaware company listed at the Virginia home of a veteran Republican operative. It was created just days before receiving the large government contract, according to ProPublica, which first reported the story.

“You want the American people to believe this is all above board?” asked Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colorado.

“Yes I do,” Noem replied.

Noem denies that DHS is ‘creating a database’ of ICE protesters

Josh Meyer

Noem denied that the Department of Homeland Security is creating a database of protesters after Democratic Rep. Lou Correa of California said a White House aide said he wanted to establish one.

Correa played video of an ICE agent telling a protester in Maine that “we have a nice little database” and that the protester was going to be added to it as a “domestic terrorist.” Correa also said White House border czar Tom Homan told Fox News he wanted to create “a database of people arrested during protests at ICE operations.”

“I don’t know why he said that,” Noem said of Homan, adding that he does not work for DHS. “We’re not creating a database.”

'You are terrorizing American citizens'

Lauren Villagran

Rep. Lou Correa, a California Democrat, recalled for Noem how he used to be stopped by immigration agents when he was growing up.

The agents would ask Correa, who is Hispanic, if he was a U.S. citizen. "I would say yes and that was enough," he said. "What do you suggest I tell my citizens back home? Do I tell my children to carry a passport?

"I would tell your citizens to be grateful," Noem said.

Correa cited several examples of U.S. citizens being allegedly wrongfully detained by ICE. "You are terrorizing American citizens," he said.

4 US citizens arrested by ICE appear at hearing

Christopher Cann

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, introduced four U.S. citizens arrested by federal agents, all of whom said they were not charged with a crime or asked about their citizenship.

“You have actually turned the United States government against its own residents,” Jayapal said. “Yours is a case of failed leadership secretary. You need to resign, be fired or be impeached.”

Noem said “context is critical” in each situation and denied allegations that agents have arrested U.S. citizens without probable cause.

Noem doesn’t commit to request to stop ICE operations at or near schools

Josh Meyer

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-California, tried – and failed – to get Noem to commit to barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from conducting operations at schools and bus drop-offs, after showing video of young children running from agents.

Lieu said the videos, taken in New Jersey in Minnesota, show agents “terrorizing children” as they were trying to get to school. In one, a New Jersey man in tears is shown saying, “I watched fourth and fifth grade kids run away from our own government. I never want to see that again.”

When Lieu asked Noem if she would “commit to stopping ICE from doing operations at or near school bus stops, school drop-off locations and school campuses,” she replied that agents are simply doing enforcement operations and not intentionally targeting schools or places where school children gather.

Noem questioned about warrants, body cameras by GOP rep.

Christopher Cann

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-West Virginia, questioned Secretary Kristi Noem over whether DHS agents will use more body cameras and ICE’s policy to enter homes without judicial warrants.

Noem, who previously said she intended to equip all federal agents with body cameras, says DHS does not have the funds to do so.

“We’re not funded for body cameras right now,” she said. “We maybe have 14,000 body cameras on agents that are out doing enforcement but clearly we need tens of thousands more.”

Noem then defended ICE’s policy of entering homes without a judge-signed warrant, saying its use of administrative warrants, which can be signed by ICE agents themselves, is “legal” and “justified.” She added that administrative warrants have been used to enter homes 28 times since the new policy went into place last year.

Noem refuses to apologize to families of Pretti, Good

Christopher Cann

Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday refused to apologize to the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good for labeling them domestic terrorists in hours after they were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.

When asked if she stands by her statements, Noem said "what happened in Minnesota was an absolute tragedy" and said she sends her "condolences to their families."

"You said they were domestic terrorists, do you regret that?" said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland.

"I offer my condolences to those families," Noem said.

She similarly refused to apologize the Pretti and Good's families on Tuesday before the Senate.

Noem: 'Not aware' of DHS hiring any Jan. 6 rioters but will look into the matter

Josh Meyer

Noem said she was not aware of the Department of Homeland Security hiring any rioters from the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol, but said she would review the matter and get back to the committee.

The DHS leader was asked about whether any Jan. 6 "offenders" were on staff by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, who also accused her and others in the department of failing to establish proper training for their new cadres of agents.

"Not that I know of," Noem told Cohen.

After Cohen asked Noem to "go in your records" and find out, she replied, "I'll get back to you on that."

Illegal for feds 'to shoot and kill' over protests, driving away

Lauren Villagran

The ranking Democrat Jamie Raskin asked Noem yes-or-no questions regarding whether federal agents have a right "to shoot and kill" in different scenarios.

This is the exchange:

"Is it lawful for federal agents to shoot and kill a person engaging in peaceful protest and nothing else?" Noem began to respond, "Each instance is different…"

Raskin asked, "Is it lawful for federal agents to shoot and kill a person for filming them on a public street?"

Noem answered: No.

"Is it lawful for federal agents to shoot and kill a person just because that person is carrying a holstered firearm under the Second Amendment and State law?" Raskin asked.

She responded: No.

Raskin continued: "Is it lawful for federal agents to shoot an innocent person, or even a criminal suspect, just because they are driving away from them, according to the Supreme Court?"

Noem responded, "No."

Noem says three controversial DHS incidents, including death of nearly blind Rohynga refugee, are ‘all being reviewed’

Josh Meyer

Noem told Democrat Jerrold Nadler of New York that three controversial incidents are under review, including one in which a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar died in Buffalo last week, reportedly after being dropped off by Border Patrol agents at a closed coffee shop in the freezing cold.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, had been missing since his release from a Buffalo jail into the custody of Border Patrol and was found dead on a downtown street, city authorities said. Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances of Shah Alam's death, a Buffalo Police Department spokesperson said.

Nadler, the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security committee, accused Noem and her agents of acting improperly and even illegally in that case and in two others. One involved agents bursting into his Capitol Hill office and in the other one, ICE agents used false pretense to arrest a student in her dorm at Columbia University, Nadler said.

“What I would say is some of your facts are wrong on some of those cases, but also that they are all being reviewed,” including by DHS’s Office of Professional Responsibility to “make sure that all protocols were followed,” Noem told Nadler.

Noem defends her record on immigration, spending at DHS

Christopher Cann

Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s defended her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security during her opening statement.

She highlighted the closure of the southern U.S. border and defended her agency’s lavish spending on ad campaigns urging undocumented immigrants to leave, calling it the “most effective media campaign in the history of this country.”

Noem also shot back at Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, accusing him of making “political pod shots” based “on falsehoods and lies.”

Ranking Democrat criticizes Noem

Lauren Villagran

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) ripped Noem over her handling of immigration enforcement, including the fatal shootings by ICE agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

The ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee issued a scathing opening statement that highlighted the repeated violation by ICE of court orders by immigration and federal court judges. He slammed Noem's spending on "lavish ad campaigns" and use of a waterfront residence that should be for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Noem's claim that the luxury jet would be retrofit for deportations "is like buying a Rolls Royce to turn into a Metro bus," Raskin said.

"You are flying high now," he said, adding: "But with all these free planes and houses, you have traveled a long way from doing your actual job."

GOP chair says Noem has ‘an amazing record’

Christopher Cann

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, lauded Kristi Noem for her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security.

Jordan celebrated the closure of the border and the administration’s hardline stance on immigration enforcement. He also thanked Noem for reversing some of the policies of the Biden administration.

“It’s an amazing record madame secretary,” he said.

Noem called to testify after deadly shootings by federal agents

Christopher Cann

Today's House Judiciary Committee hearing was scheduled after Democrats demanded that Kristi Noem testify about the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents.

"The American people are outraged by these cold-blooded killings, and we demand accountability," said a letter from Democrats on the committee to House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan in January.

Like the Senate hearing on Tuesday, Noem is expected to face questions about the deadly shootings, the statements she made in the immediate aftermath of the incidents and the lack of federal cooperation with local investigators in Minnesota.

Noem grilled at Senate hearing

Christopher Cann

On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was grilled by Democrats and a few Republicans for the aggressive immigration enforcement under her leadership, the agency's recent purchases of luxury jets and her handling of FEMA.

The fiercest rebuke came from Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, who reiterated calls for Noem's resignation and threatened to halt bloc nominations of President Donald Trump's appointees in the Senate until his questions about an immigration surge in Charlotte are answered.

“What we’ve seen is a disaster under your leadership, Ms. Noem,” Tillis said.

How one Republican could unleash Senate chaos over Kristi Noem