Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced questions about this year’s fatal shootings in Minnesota as she testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis labeled Noem “incompetent” at Tuesday’s hearing and said the agency is a “disaster” under her leadership. The room erupted in applause after Tillis said he’s calling for her resignation.
Multiple lawmakers pressed Noem about her previous statements accusing Renee Good and Alex Pretti of “domestic terrorism.” The hearing, which lasted more than four hours, marked Noem’s first congressional appearance since Good and Pretti were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Democratic Senator Peter Welch asked Noem if she wants to apologize to Good and Pretti’s families.
“You said something that accused them of being domestic terrorists — a 37-year-old mother of three, a 37-year-old veteran administration nurse,” he said. “One question: do you want to apologize for that characterization that they were domestic terrorists?”
Noem did not apologize and told Welch she will “continue every day to get up and to work hard to give everybody factual information.”
Meanwhile, DHS has been shut down since February 14 after lawmakers failed to reach a deal on legislation to fund the department through September. Noem told lawmakers the shutdown is “reckless” and “unnecessary.”
Key Points
- Room applauds as Republican senator calls for Kristi Noem's resignation
- Senator Dick Durbin presses DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on 'domestic terrorism' comments
- Noem grilled on DHS purchase of luxury jet
- 'No plans' to have ICE agents at polling locations
- Noem says ICE agents are facing a 'serious and escalating threat'
Recap: Kristi Noem testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee
18:50 , Katie HawkinsonDepartment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified for more than four hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
Here’s what to know:
- Several lawmakers criticized Noem for her past comments accusing Renee Good and Alex Pretti of “domestic terrorism.” Among them was Democratic Senator Peter Welch, who gave Noem opportunities to apologize to their families. She did not apologize.
- Republican Senator Thom Tillis called on Noem to resign, which prompted applause from others in the room.
- Noem defended the use of administrative warrants to make immigration arrests, saying “it is the legal process we have.” The warrants are internal administrative documents, drafted and signed by ICE officers themselves, and are not reviewed by a judge.
- When asked about her agency’s purchase of a “luxury jet,” Noem said DHS is purchasing aircraft “that will be utilized for executive air travel and for deportations.”
- Noem told lawmakers ICE agents are facing “a serious and escalating threat” because of “deliberate mischaracterizations of their heroic work and rhetoric that demonizes our law enforcement.”
Analysis: Republicans and Democrats both have a lot riding on the first big primaries of the midterms. Here’s why
20:01 , Eric GarciaTuesday night, two major standoffs will take place in Texas that carry broad implications for the midterm elections in November.
Keep reading:
Texas is first big primary of the midterms. Here’s when election results will come in
Hakeem Jeffries reacts to Kristi Noem's testimony
19:50 , Katie HawkinsonHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s testimony in a statement released during today’s hearing.
“Kristi Noem viciously slandered Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti as domestic terrorists,” Jeffries wrote on X. “The so-called Secretary refused to apologize to their families for her disgusting lies when she testified today. This political hack has to go.”
Watch: Kristi Noem’s Senate hearing interrupted by protesters as she’s accused of creating ‘hateful America’
19:35 , Katie HawkinsonWatch: Republican senator rips into Kristi Noem over DHS leadership in tense hearing
19:15 , Katie HawkinsonRepublican Senator Thom Tillis ripped into DHS Secretary Kristi Noem at today’s hearing.
Watch below:
Hearing concludes
18:41 , Katie HawkinsonThe Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing has ended after more than four hours.
The hearing concluded with remarks from Republican Senator Ted Cruz.
Senator Peter Welch asks Kristi Noem if she'll apologize to Renee Good and Alex Pretti's families
18:18 , Katie HawkinsonDemocratic Senator Peter Welch gave DHS Secretary Kristi Noem multiple opportunities to apologize to Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s family members.
“Knowing what you do know, do you want to take an opportunity to apologize to their families that you characterized them, on the basis of the information you had at the time, that they were engaged in domestic terrorism?” Welch asked.
“I certainly offer my condolences to these families and for their loss. These were tragic situations that we saw in Minneapolis, and we continue to work to make sure that those situations are handled appropriately,” Noem responded.
Welch continued to press Noem on the issue.
“I understand you're offering condolences,” he said. “You said something that accused them of being domestic terrorists — a 37-year-old mother of three, a 37-year-old veteran administration nurse. One question: do you want to apologize for that characterization that they were domestic terrorists?”
Noem did not apologize and told lawmakers she will “continue every day to get up and to work hard to give everybody factual information.”
Kristi Noem says social media companies are cooperating with child exploitation investigations
18:11 , Katie HawkinsonRepublican Senator Josh Hawley asked DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about the agency’s work to investigate child exploitation online.
“We talked about Homeland Security Investigations, you have a mandate and a unit to investigate child exploitation, to work with the FBI to prosecute it,” Hawley said. “My question is, first, are you getting cooperation when it comes to identifying the children's images? Are you getting cooperation from the social media platforms who frequently are hosting these images to identify and then to take down the images?”
“Yes, they are partnering with us,” Noem replied. “There's always more we can do, but President Trump has done a fantastic job bringing them to the table and getting them to engage with us, to go after these criminals and these individuals who abuse our children.”
Senator Adam Schiff says Kristi Noem made 'spurious' claims after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed
17:59 , Katie HawkinsonDemocratic Senator Adam Schiff accused DHS Secretary Kristi Noem of making “spurious” claims after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.
“Did you determine whether there was any basis for the sensational claim, a claim that proved to be utterly false, that these two victims were engaged in domestic terrorism?” Schiff asked.
“There is an investigation ongoing, the FBI is leading that, and there’s also an internal investigation that’s ongoing,” Noem said.
Schiff accused Noem of spreading “unvetted information.” Noem replied that she works “every day to get factual information to the American people.”
“You didn't on the day that Alex Pretti was shot, and you simply didn't on the day Renee Good was shot,” Schiff replied. “You weren't getting out good information, you were making a spurious claim that has caused endless injury to the victims’ families on the basis of God knows what.”
Senator says Kristi Noem should resign or be fired
17:48 , Katie HawkinsonDemocratic Senator Alex Padilla called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to leave her position.
“You should resign, or the president should fire you, or the House should vote to impeach,” Padilla said.
Tillis criticizes Noem for killing her 14-month-old dog
17:42 , Katie HawkinsonSenator Thom Tillis criticized DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for killing her 14-month-old dog, Cricket.
In her 2024 book, Noem described shooting Cricket after he misbehaved on a hunting trip.
"I train dogs, alright? And you are a farmer, you should know better,” Tillis said. “You should know that if you're going out to a hunting lodge, and you're putting pheasants out and you're putting dogs out, you don't take a puppy out there. A 14-month-old dog is basically a teenager in dog years.”
“You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time and training, and then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it's a leadership lesson about tough choices,” he added.
Noem grilled on DHS warehouses
17:20 , Alex WoodwardSenator Cory Booker grilled DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about ICE’s plan to acquire massive warehouses to detain tens of thousands of people.
ICE earmarked nearly $40 billion for the projects, which are meeting resistance across the country.
Noem says the warehouses are “building efficiency.”
Room applauds as senator calls for Kristi Noem's resignation
17:16 , Katie HawkinsonToday’s hearing erupted into applause as Republican Senator Thom Tillis called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.
“I want to submit this letter from the Office of Inspector General that cites 10 different instances under Ms. Noem’s leadership where they've been misled and not allowed to pursue investigations that they think are critically important,” he said.
“Does anybody have any idea how bad it has to be for the OIG in this agency to come out and do this publicly? That is stonewalling. That's a failure of leadership, and that is why I've called for your resignation,” he added.
When several people started clapping, Tillis said, “I don’t want applause, please don’t do that for me.”
Senator Thom Tillis lashes out at Kristi Noem
17:06 , Katie HawkinsonRepublican Senator Thom Tillis, who is not seeking re-election, lashed out at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and called the agency a “disaster” under her leadership.
Tillis pointed to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year. He said the investigations into the killings are “going to prove that Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti probably should not have been shot in the face and in the back.”
“Law enforcement needs to learn from that. You don’t protect them by not looking after the facts,” Tillis said.
Marimar Martinez stands during hearing as Noem pressed on ICE activity
16:48 , Katie Hawkinson, Alex WoodwardSenator Richard Blumenthal introduced three people at today’s hearing: Javier Ramirez, Marimar Martinez and Leonardo Garcia Venegas. They stood up from their seats as Blumenthal spoke.
Martinez was shot five times by an immigration agent in October. Ramirez and Venegas have both said they were detained by immigration agents last year, despite telling officials they are U.S. citizens.
“These three individuals, Madam Secretary, were arrested by your agency," Blumenthal said.
Noem testified that there are “times when U.S. citizens may be arrested or detained until their identity is confirmed and that they haven't committed a crime.”
The agent who shot Martinez in Chicago was placed on administrative leave after the shooting, DHS told The Independent last month. But it’s unclear whether he has since returned to work.
When asked if the agent is back on the job, Noem testified she would look into it.
Hours after the shooting, Gregory Bovino praised officer Charles Exum in an email that offered to extend his service with the agency, according to messages released by prosecutors. “In light of your excellent service in Chicago, you have much yet left to do!!” Bovino wrote.
'No plans' to have ICE at polling locations, Noem says
16:17 , Katie HawkinsonDemocratic Senator Chris Coons asked DHS Secretary Kristi Noem if she would rule out sending federal immigration agents to polling locations during the upcoming midterm elections.
"There are no plans to have ICE officers at our polling locations," Noem testified.
“I’m glad to hear that, but would you rule it out?” Coons asked. “Would you say it will not happen?”
“Do you plan on illegal aliens voting in our elections?” Noem replied.
More than 600 DHS agents still in Minnesota
16:09 , Katie HawkinsonAbout 650 DHS agents are still in Minnesota, Kristi Noem testified.
That total includes investigators who are working on fraud cases in the state, she added.
Kristi Noem pressed on Stephen Miller quote
16:02 , Katie HawkinsonSenator John Kennedy asked DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about an Axios article published shortly after Alex Pretti was killed.
Noem told an unidentified source that “everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen,” according to the outlet.
Noem told lawmakers the article was based on anonymous sourcing and said she enjoys working with the president and Stephen Miller.
Noem spars with Senator Amy Klobuchar
15:53 , Katie HawkinsonSenator Amy Klobuchar grilled DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on her comments following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Klobuchar said Noem called them “domestic terrorists without any evidence of that.”
“Ma’am, I did not call him a domestic terrorist, I said it appeared to be an incident of,” Noem said, referring to her comments after Pretti was killed.
What has Noem said about Renee Good and Alex Pretti?
15:45 , Katie HawkinsonHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the actions of Renee Good and Alex Pretti as “domestic terrorism” after they were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.
After a federal immigration agent fatally shot Good in her car on January 7, Noem said she had “weaponized her vehicle against law enforcement” and described her actions as “domestic terrorism.”
When Pretti was killed on January 24, Noem made a similar statement.
"This individual who came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers committed an act of domestic terrorism," she said at the time. "That’s the facts."
Noem grilled on DHS purchase of luxury jet
15:22 , Katie HawkinsonDemocratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse grilled DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on the agency’s purchase of a “luxury jet.”
“What kind of deportee justifies being flown out of the country in a luxury jet with a bedroom and accommodations?” he asked.
“There are aircraft being purchased that will be utilized for executive air travel and for deportations. If you remember, in the past, we have used jets of this size and this configuration for deportations,” Noem replied.
Noem defends use of administrative warrants for immigration arrests
15:06 , Alex WoodwardDHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the use of administrative warrants to make immigration arrests, saying “it is the legal process we have.” The warrants are internal administrative documents, drafted and signed by ICE officers themselves, and are not reviewed by a judge.
Federal judges, constitutional law experts and Democratic members of Congress have roundly rejected the administration’s defense that such warrants can be used because undocumented immigrants aren’t covered by the Fourth Amendment.
Last month, a group of House Democrats wrote to Noem urging ICE to rescind a memo instructing officers to rely on them.
“You must rescind this memo and adhere to the requirements of the Fourth Amendment by ensuring your agents obtain a judicial warrant prior to making any non-consensual entry into a private residence,” they wrote.
Senator Dick Durbin presses Noem on 'domestic terrorism' comments
15:03 , Katie HawkinsonDemocratic Senator Dick Durbin asked DHS Secretary Kristi Noem if she would retract previous statements labeling Alex Pretti and Renee Good as “domestic terrorists.”
“You and your agency rushed to brand these victims as ‘domestic terrorists,’” Durbin said. “We have ample video evidence and eyewitness testimony proving you are wrong. Your statements cause immeasurable pain to these families.”
“Let me give you an opportunity to do the right thing,” he added. “Do you retract these statements identifying these individuals as domestic terrorists?”
“When we have these situations happen, we always offer our condolences to those families, and I offer mine as well,” Noem replied. “These are tragic situations, and I can't imagine what these families go through and losing a loved one.”
Noem noted that her agency works to provide Americans with “as much information as possible.”
“Is it so hard to say you were wrong?” Durbin asked.
“I absolutely strive to provide factual information and will continue to do that,” Noem said.
Second protester removed
14:54 , Katie HawkinsonA second protester was removed from Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing after standing and shouting at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Kristi Noem says ICE agents are facing a 'serious and escalating threat'
14:43 , Katie HawkinsonDHS Secretary Kristi Noem told the Senate Judiciary Committee that ICE agents are facing a “dangerous environment.”
“I want to address the dangerous environment that our ICE officers face on the streets today. They are facing a serious and escalating threat as a result of deliberate mischaracterizations of their heroic work and rhetoric that demonizes our law enforcement,” she testified.
“DHS has documented an 8,000 percent increase in death threats against our ICE officers and their families, as well as more than 1,300 percent increase in assaults while carrying out the lawful enforcement operations that they do every single day,” she continued.
Protester removed from hearing after shouting at Kristi Noem
14:36 , Katie HawkinsonAn individual was removed from today’s hearing after shouting at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
“Kristi Noem, you should be ashamed of yourself,” the protester said.
The individual continued to shout at Noem as security officials removed them from the room.
Democratic Senator slams 'evil vision of a hateful America'
14:29 , Katie HawkinsonDemocratic Senator Dick Durbin slammed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, in his opening statement.
“Secretary Noem and her rogue immigration agents seem to believe they are above the law and accountable only to the President and Stephen Miller's evil vision of a hateful America,” Durbin said.
Grassley calls on Democrats to 'end the shutdown'
14:25 , Katie HawkinsonSenator Chuck Grassley, the Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on Democratic lawmakers to “end the shutdown” during his opening statement Tuesday morning.
The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down since last month after lawmakers failed to reach a deal on funding for the agency.
Kristi Noem arrives for hearing
14:14 , Katie Hawkinson
Noem also set to testify before House committee
14:01 , Isabel KeaneDepartment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is also expected to to testify before the House Judiciary Committee during an oversight hearing on Wednesday.
She will appear before the Senate panel at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
House committee to consider DHS funding bill today
14:00 , Isabel KeaneThe House Rules Committee will consider a measure to fund DHS on Tuesday, allowing for a potential vote later in the week.
DHS has been shut down since February 14 after congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump’s team failed to reach a deal on legislation to fund the department through September.
Democrats have demanded changes to how immigration operations are conducted following the fatal shootings of Good and Pretti.
