Kristi Noem testifies to Congress on worldwide threats, immigration; protesters erupt at hearing 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned Congress of escalating threats and defended the Trump administration’s immigration policies in a contentious hearing Thursday that was interrupted by shouting protesters. 

“Stop ICE raids. The power of Christ compels you. End deportations! The power of Christ compels you,” one protester, dressed as a Catholic cardinal and holding a cross, screamed as Noem attempted to begin her opening remarks.  

“Get ICE off our streets, stop terrorizing our community,” another protester shouted. The protesters were warned that disrupting congressional business is a criminal offense and were escorted out by Capitol police.  

“Under President Trump’s leadership, DHS is securing our borders, we’re restoring the rule of law and we’re protecting the homeland,” Noem said after the protesters were removed. “DHS is eradicating transnational organized crime and the stopping of deadly drugs from continuing to be funneled into our communities.” 

She also defended the Trump administration’s border policies, which became a central focus of the hearing. 

“We’re ending illegal immigration, returning sanity back to our immigration system, and we’re defending against cyber attacks against our critical infrastructure,” Noem said. “We have sent a strong message to criminal aliens that we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you.” 

Noem called out the terrorist who shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., the day before Thanksgiving – leaving one dead and one critically injured and fighting for his life. 

“The terrorist who shot them was an Afghan national who entered the United States under Operation Allies Welcome,” Noem said. “The same week, we arrested another Afghan national who came in under the same program; he was planning to carry out a bombing in Fort Worth, Texas.” 

Noem criticized the Biden administration for allowing “millions of people to come into our country illegally” and letting in millions more without vetting under parole programs.  

“As a result we’ve seen terrorist crimes and heinous crimes committed against American children and families by criminal illegal aliens and violent perpetrators who should have never been allowed into this country in the first place,” she said.  

Democratic lawmakers criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies throughout the hearing, with several calling on Noem to resign.  

“Bottom line: you lie with impunity, you reject checks and balances, and you ignore Congress and the courts,” Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Democrat from Illinois, said. “Your options are limited, either you’re going to resign, Trump’s going to fire you, or you will be impeached.”  

Noem fired back at Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Michigan, who accused her of “incompetence” and demanded that she resign.  

“Sir, I will consider your asking me to resign as an endorsement of my work,” Noem said.  

Noem received support from Republican lawmakers, including Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, who criticized Democrats for having “no concern for anything worldwide threats-wise.”  

Asked about Venezuela and the Coast Guard seizing an oil tanker near Venezuela on Wednesday, Noem said the operation was ordered by President Donald Trump and carried out in coordination with several departments.  

The Coast Guard operation was to “ensure that we’re pushing back on a regime that is systematically covering and flooding our country with deadly drugs and killing our next generation of Americans,” Noem said. “Just the drugs that the Coast Guard has been able to interdict on the waters since President Trump has been in office has been enough lethal doses of cocaine to kill 177 million Americans.” 

Rep. Gonzales agreed and thanked Noem and the administration for “making our backyard a priority” to keep the public safe. “For too long, president after president after president, our backyard has been left wide open,” he said. 

The hearing came amid speculation and reports indicating that Noem’s days as the secretary may be numbered as frustration mounts over her handling of the agency. MS NOW, citing a White House official, said Noem is on “very thin ice” and would likely be replaced.  

Yet Trump himself has repeatedly defended Noem and said he is “so happy” with her work. 

“I read a story recently that I’m unhappy with Kristi – I’m so happy with her,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “We have a border that’s the best border in the history of our country. Why would I be unhappy? She’s fantastic, actually.”