Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada called for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying that Noem is attempting to mislead the public about a fatal shooting by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis. The call came as Democratic anger intensified over the incident and a second fatal shooting by immigration agents this month.
Rosen said Noem’s conduct was “deeply shameful” and she “must be impeached and removed from office immediately.” The senator made the call in a statement after Noem swiftly defended the shooting without awaiting a full investigation.
The impeachment calls are unlikely to succeed in the Republican-controlled Congress but are expected to complicate Senate Republican efforts this week to pass a spending bill and prevent a partial government shutdown on Jan. 30.
The Shooting and Video Evidence
The impeachment calls centered on the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. Videos of the scene reviewed by The Associated Press appear to contradict statements by the Trump administration that agents fired “defensively” as Pretti “approached” them with a gun.
In the videos, Pretti appears to be carrying only a phone in his hand. Pretti was licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but he is not seen with a gun during the initial moments of the encounter. During a scuffle with agents, they discovered he was carrying a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun. The agents opened fire with several shots, including into his back. Officials did not say whether Pretti had brandished the weapon.
Noem’s Defense and Rosen’s Response
Noem defended the shooting on Sunday without awaiting a full investigation. She said Pretti showed up to “impede a law enforcement operation.”
“This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement,” Noem said.
Rosen directly challenged that characterization. Calling Noem’s conduct “deeply shameful,” the Nevada senator said the Homeland Security secretary had been an “abject failure” and that “the abuses of power we’re seeing from ICE are the latest proof that she has lost control over her own department and staff.”
Rosen also pointed to reports that the Coast Guard purchased two of Noem’s luxury jets worth $172 million.
Growing Democratic Pressure
Other Democrats swiftly joined the calls for action. Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey said Congress should begin impeachment proceedings against Noem, describing her as “right now actually orchestrating on the streets of our country this almost vigilantism on the part of ICE agents terrorizing cities all across the country.”
Moderate Senate Democrats who had previously voted with Republicans to end a 43-day government shutdown said they would now vote against Homeland Security funding this week, even if it risked another shutdown. Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said the department was “brutalizing U.S. citizens and law-abiding immigrants.” Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said, “we are not living in normal times.”
The anger intensified following a second fatal shooting by immigration agents. Renee Good was shot and killed by ICE agents on Jan. 7 in the Minneapolis area.
In the House, Democratic lawmakers held a call with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison, both former congressmen. Most House Democrats who spoke during the call supported impeachment proceedings. A House resolution to launch impeachment proceedings had the support of more than 100 Democrats.
New York Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat who was one of only seven House Democrats who voted to fund the Homeland Security Department last week, nonetheless said “there must be accountability, which is why Secretary Noem must be impeached immediately.” She added, “She is not focused on safety or border security; she’s focused on chaos and self-promotion, undermining local law enforcement and stoking violence as a result.”
Republican Response
Some Republicans called for a thorough investigation. Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana both said the shooting warranted scrutiny, even as other GOP lawmakers defended Noem’s handling of the incident.