Jeffries Intensifies Criticism of Noem, Calls for Permanent Removal of DHS Secretary

Congressman Jeffries Escalates Rhetoric Against DHS Secretary Noem, Threatens Impeachment

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has intensified his criticism of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, declaring she should be “put on ice permanently” and threatening impeachment proceedings if she is not removed from office.

During a Thursday press conference, the New York Democrat confirmed he had reiterated his impeachment threat in a recent conversation with House Speaker Mike Johnson. “I did reiterate in my conversation with Speaker Johnson that we intend to proceed with impeachment proceedings if Kristi Noem is not fired,” Jeffries stated.

The minority leader’s comments mark a significant escalation in Democratic opposition to Noem, who has faced increasing criticism over her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security. Jeffries did not mince words in his assessment of Noem’s performance, calling her “a complete and total embarrassment” and “a disgrace.”

Particularly contentious was Jeffries’ claim that Noem has “presided over the cold-blooded killings of American citizens like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.” These references connect to recent immigration enforcement actions that have drawn intense scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates.

A Trump administration source sharply criticized Jeffries’ rhetoric, suggesting there would be a double standard in media coverage if similar language came from Republican leadership. “Imagine if the Republican majority leader had made similar remarks about Joe Biden while he was president?” the source told Fox News Digital. “The liberal media would be up in arms to charge him with inciting an assassination.”

The source characterized Jeffries’ comments as “dangerous, and unfathomably stupid given the culture of political violence the left has endorsed and perpetrated against conservative leaders.”

The confrontation highlights the increasingly polarized debate over immigration enforcement under the current administration. Noem’s tenure at DHS has been marked by controversial policies and enforcement actions that have drawn praise from immigration hardliners but fierce opposition from immigration advocates and many Democratic lawmakers.

Jeffries directed additional criticism at Senate Republicans who voted to confirm Noem for the DHS position. “She should have never been confirmed,” he said. “Shame on every Republican in the Senate who put this wildly unqualified person into a position of significance — the Department of Homeland Security — so she could unleash brutalization on everyday Americans, American citizens, and law-abiding immigrant families.”

After his comments drew attention for their intensity, Jeffries appeared to clarify his “put on ice” remark in a statement, saying, “She needs to be put on ice. It’s clear, right? That means gone. G-O-N-E. From her position. Don’t misinterpret anything that I’ve said.”

The threat of impeachment proceedings adds another layer of tension to an already fractious relationship between congressional Democrats and the administration. While impeachment would face significant hurdles in the current Congress, the rhetoric underscores the depth of Democratic opposition to Noem and her policies.

The Department of Justice has recently opened a civil rights investigation into one of the incidents referenced by Jeffries involving the death of Alex Pretti during immigration enforcement operations. Such incidents have become flashpoints in the broader national debate over immigration enforcement tactics and policies.

As political tensions continue to mount, this confrontation between Jeffries and the administration illustrates the deep divisions over immigration policy that persist as a defining feature of the current political landscape. The administration has thus far stood by Noem despite the growing criticism from Democratic lawmakers.