More than five dozen House Democrats have now signed on to articles of impeachment targeting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, escalating a partisan push against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) confirmed Wednesday that 67 Democrats are co-sponsoring the impeachment resolution, according to her office.
Axios first reported the growing co-sponsor count earlier this week.
Kelly announced her intent to impeach Noem last week following a fatal encounter in Minneapolis in which an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot anti-ICE activist Renee Nicole Good, 37.
The agent was forced to open fire on Good when she ran him over with her vehicle during an enforcement action.
Kelly’s office said the resolution seeks to advance three articles of impeachment, accusing Noem of obstructing Congress, violating public trust, and engaging in self-dealing by allegedly using her office for personal gain.
A DHS spokesperson dismissed the impeachment effort as political theater.
“How silly during a serious time,” the spokesperson reportedly told Fox News.
“As ICE officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, Rep. Kelly is more focused on showmanship and fundraising clicks than actually cleaning up her crime-ridden Chicago district.
“We hope she would get serious about doing her job to protect the American people, which is what this Department is doing under Secretary Noem.”
Democrats Accuse Noem, Trump of ‘Terrorizing’ Cities
Speaking on the House floor Tuesday, Kelly accused Noem of “terrorizing our communities” by arresting illegal aliens.
Kelly blamed federal immigration enforcement for violence in the Chicago area.
“Operation Midway Blitz has torn apart the Chicagoland area,” Kelly said.
“President Donald Trump declared war on Chicago, and then he brought violence and destruction to our city and suburbs in the form of immigration enforcement.”
The Trump administration has forcefully rejected that framing, maintaining that federal agents are carrying out lawful operations targeting criminal illegal aliens amid rising violence against ICE officers.
Noem Stands Firm
Noem brushed aside the impeachment push during an interview on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” saying she would continue executing the president’s agenda.
“President Trump promised the American people that he would make America safe again, that we would be out there enforcing the laws and that we would apply them equally,” Noem said.
“Nobody is above the law, and we were going to start putting American citizens first.”
“So criminal, illegal aliens in this country are going to be brought to justice under his administration,” she added.
WATCH:
While the impeachment effort has gained traction among House Democrats, it faces long odds in the Republican-controlled chamber.
GOP leadership has shown no indication of advancing proceedings against the DHS secretary.
READ MORE – ICE Agent Ran Over by Renee Good Suffered Internal Bleeding, DHS Reveals
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