Calls to remove Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are intensifying after a fatal shooting in Minneapolis last week, when an ICE officer killed Minnesota resident Renee Good.
What’s happening
Rep. Robin Kelly (D–Ill.) said Thursday she plans to introduce articles of impeachment accusing Noem of obstruction of Congress, violating the public trust, and self-dealing. At least nine Democrats have said they will co-sponsor the measure, including Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D–Ill.) and Jill Tokuda (D–Hawaii).
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D–Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, told Axios there is “a rising clamor for oversight and potentially impeachment of Secretary Noem after the nightmare in Minneapolis.”
The bigger picture
The push is part of a wider debate over how immigration enforcement tactics affect vulnerable communities across the country. Good died on Jan. 7, and her case is being discussed alongside other fatal incidents in Chicago involving Silverio Villegas Gonzalez (killed in September) and Marimar Martinez (shot in October).
Democratic Rep. Chuy Garcia (D–Ill.) told AP News that the fact that Good was a white U.S. citizen and a mother “may be opening the eyes of the American public” to aggressive tactics that many immigrant communities have described for years.
Earlier incidents added fuel
Pressure on Noem also grew after a Dec. 11 congressional hearing. During that session, Rep. Seth Magaziner (D–R.I.) highlighted the case of Purple Heart veteran Sae Joon Park, a Korean immigrant who self-deported to South Korea in June after officials revoked his deferred action despite convictions that date back more than 15 years.
Together, these cases have become focal points in the argument that enforcement decisions can prioritize removal over factors such as rehabilitation, family stability, and long-standing ties to the United States — even for people with military service records.
Why it matters
For Asian American communities, advocates say the implications go beyond any single case. Park’s attorney has pointed to the fact that 38% of military naturalizations involve non-citizens, meaning many service members — including thousands of Asian Americans — could face removal over past non-violent offenses.
Political impact and what comes next
Democrats view the growing backlash as significant heading into November’s midterm elections, which they expect to focus heavily on healthcare and cost-of-living issues. Some Republicans have also expressed concern, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R–Alaska), who called the Minneapolis videos “deeply disturbing” and said it “cannot happen again.”
Kelly’s impeachment resolution now moves to the House Judiciary Committee. But with Republicans controlling Congress, its chances of advancing remain slim.
