Tensions Flare as DHS Secretary Noem Faces Heated Congressional Hearing

A House Homeland Security hearing erupted into contentious exchanges Thursday as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified before Congress on “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland.” The session, which Noem had to leave early for a scheduled FEMA meeting, quickly became a platform for partisan confrontations over immigration enforcement, deportation practices, and drone security threats.

The hearing began with an extraordinary call from Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) for Noem’s resignation, just minutes after proceedings started. Thompson cited what he described as numerous violations of U.S. law by the DHS under Noem’s leadership.

“Rather than sitting here and wasting your time and ours with more corruption, lies and lawlessness, I call on you to resign. Do a real service to the country and just resign,” Thompson said.

The Democratic congressman specifically referenced the administration’s deportation of undocumented immigrants to El Salvador despite court orders, withholding federal grants to pressure cities into supporting immigration enforcement, and the alleged detainment of American citizens. Many of these actions remain under legal review in various courts.

During questioning about drone security, Noem acknowledged significant vulnerabilities in America’s counter-drone capabilities. “Frankly, our authorities haven’t kept up with it,” she told lawmakers, outlining plans to invest approximately $1.5 billion in drone detection and mitigation technology.

The DHS Secretary emphasized that merely detecting unauthorized drones isn’t sufficient. “We don’t just want to detect; we don’t want to just monitor. We need to mitigate. We need to take these drones down,” Noem said, highlighting particular concerns about aerial security for upcoming high-profile events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and future Olympic Games.

Immigration enforcement dominated much of the hearing, with Democratic lawmakers repeatedly pressing Noem on deportation practices. In one notable exchange, Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) introduced Sae Joon Park, a U.S. Army combat veteran participating via Zoom who had been shot twice while serving in Panama in 1989.

Magaziner explained that Park, a green card holder who struggled with substance abuse after his military service, had self-deported to Korea earlier this year following a removal order related to a drug possession charge and failure to appear in court. Park had previously received leniency but faced deportation under the current administration’s policies.

Noem promised to examine Park’s case but maintained that “every one of [our laws] needs to be enforced” while thanking him for his military service.

The hearing was briefly interrupted when protesters, including one dressed as a priest carrying a crucifix, stood and shouted “End deportations!” and “The power of Christ compels you!” The demonstrators were quickly escorted from the room by security. Noem, unfazed by the disruption, continued her testimony without acknowledging the protesters.

Later in the hearing, Noem challenged Congress directly on immigration policy. “I think it’s shameful to see the defense of individuals who break our laws,” she said in response to Democratic lawmakers’ concerns about deportations. “If you guys don’t like the law, go change it. That’s your job. You don’t complain.”

According to figures released by DHS on Wednesday, the United States has deported 2.5 million undocumented immigrants under Noem’s leadership, underscoring the administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.

The contentious hearing highlighted the deep partisan divide over immigration policy and enforcement strategies, with Republicans generally supporting the administration’s strict approach while Democrats raised concerns about humanitarian impacts and potential civil rights violations.

As the hearing concluded, the fundamental disagreements between administration officials and Democratic lawmakers remained unresolved, reflecting broader national tensions over immigration policy and enforcement priorities that continue to define American political discourse.