Democratic and some Republican senators pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over what they described as overly aggressive immigration enforcement. Noem’s testimony before the Judiciary Committee comes as Congress remains deadlocked over DHS funding, raising concerns about national security at a moment of escalating conflict in the Middle East. Lisa Desjardins reports.
Geoff Bennett:
We begin the day’s other headlines on Capitol Hill, where Democratic and some Republican senators pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over what they described as overly aggressive immigration enforcement.
Noem’s testimony before the Judiciary Committee comes as Congress remains deadlocked over DHS funding, raising concerns about national security at a moment of escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Lisa Desjardins has more.
Lisa Desjardins:
Secretary Noem today fielding her first direct questions from Congress since the immigration crackdown that was deadly in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
(Shouting)
Lisa Desjardins:
Within seconds, interrupted by chance of “Abolish ICE.”
Protester:
Abolish ICE!
Lisa Desjardins:
The killings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers earlier this year led to widespread demands of accountability.
Noem defended Homeland Security’s operations.
Kristi Noem, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary:
It’s important that we distinguish between disagreements over policy and the department’s operational responsibility to enforce existing law that has been passed by Congress.
Lisa Desjardins:
Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar, a candidate for governor, questioned the tactics in her state.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN):
Do you agree that it is unacceptable for your agents to ram into someone’s door and drag someone out in their underwear in below-zero temperatures when they have the wrong guy?
Kristi Noem:
Our officers conduct targeted operations and utilize the law processes that are given to them and the tools.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar:
You will not answer that you think that’s wrong?
Kristi Noem:
They needed to identify that individual, and that individual…
Sen. Amy Klobuchar:
They couldn’t identify him by looking at his identification?
Lisa Desjardins:
And two Republicans didn’t hold back.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC):
We’re beginning to get the American people to think that deporting people is wrong. It’s the exact opposite. The way you’re going about deporting them is wrong.
Lisa Desjardins:
In a tirade, Thom Tillis of North Carolina called on Noem to resign.
John Kennedy of Louisiana pressed her on spending $220 million on TV ads that feature the secretary front and center.
Kristi Noem:
We went through the legal processes.
(Crosstalk)
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA):
Did the president know you were going to do this?
Kristi Noem:
Yes.
Sen. John Kennedy:
He did?
Kristi Noem:
I think would be helpful to know how effective that communications has been, that overwhelmingly…
Sen. John Kennedy:
Well, they were effective in your name recognition.
Lisa Desjardins:
But other Republicans like South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham laid the blame on Democrats.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC):
I’d like to make sure, if there was a bad shooting, it’s documented as such and people pay a price. But I will not apologize to anybody in this room to try to clean up the mess that Biden started and you empowered.
Lisa Desjardins:
Directly behind Noem, so-called Angel Families, some of their loved ones killed by undocumented immigrants, others from fentanyl and other drugs smuggled in illegally.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT):
Leo, Javier, and Marimar, would you please stand?
Lisa Desjardins:
Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal introduced American citizens detained by DHS agents. One woman was shot five times on her way to church.
Noem said she wasn’t familiar with those cases, but throughout she repeated that her officers follow the law and have dramatically cut down illegal border crossings.
Kristi Noem:
You don’t talk about the good work that they do to protect people from being victimized, right, people that are in this country that want to conduct violent crimes against them or take advantage of them. The laws need to apply to everyone.
Lisa Desjardins:
Democrats argued she’s breaking laws, not following them.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ):
Either you are utterly incompetent or you are violating laws with impunity.
Lisa Desjardins:
Most Republicans defended her.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX):
Thirty-one million Texans say thank you.
Lisa Desjardins:
A divisive hearing and secretary who faces more questions tomorrow from House members.
For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Lisa Desjardins.
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