Senate Democrats Push for Noem, Homan Testimony After Renee Good Killing
The killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis has sparked a wave of protests and heated clashes with federal officers. Now, Senate Democrats are calling for oversight hearings and testimony from top officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House border czar Tom Homan.Democrats Urge Hearings and Testimony
In a letter to the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Democrats led by ranking member Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan called for hearings and potentially issue subpoenas to senior administration officials. The lawmakers said the deployment of federal agents has occurred 'without appropriate coordination with state and local law enforcement' and accused federal officers of engaging in 'numerous operations involving excessive uses of force,' including Good's killing.
Good's Killing Sparks Renewed Scrutiny
The fatal shooting on January 7 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has prompted renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics. The incident has sparked days of protests in Minnesota, with President Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that would allow him to deploy the U.S. military to the state or federalize the National Guard.
Democrats Accuse DHS Leadership of Failing to Investigate
The senators accused DHS leadership of failing to fairly and transparently investigate incidents, including Good's killing. They also faulted Noem for claiming publicly that 'no American citizens have been arrested or detained,' despite lawsuits, rulings, and reporting indicating otherwise.
Assistant DHS Secretary Responds
In response to the Democrats' letter, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, 'DHS is a law enforcement agency — enforcing the rule of law passed by Congress. If members don't like the law, it is quite literally their job to change it.' She added that ICE officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them and accused politicians of being more focused on 'showmanship and fundraising clicks' than removing criminals from the streets.
Congress Negotiates Funding for DHS
The push for Senate hearings comes as Congress negotiates funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Lawmakers passed a three-bill package this week funding several federal agencies, but left DHS unresolved after Democrats said they would not support a funding bill without new accountability measures for ICE.
As the debate over immigration enforcement tactics continues, Senate Democrats are pushing for greater transparency and oversight. The killing of Renee Good has brought attention to the need for accountability within the Department of Homeland Security, and the outcome of these hearings will have significant implications for the future of immigration policy in the United States.
