(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are not breaking any laws in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
Some Senate Republicans agreed with Noem and argued against defunding DHS. Democrats grilled Noem on controversial ICE incidents such as the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
“We enforce the law. If you don’t like the law, I would suggest you change the law,” Noem said. “Our job at the department is to follow the law and make sure that we are a nation of laws because a nation that doesn’t follow the law is no nation at all.”
Numerous times, Noem and other Republicans criticized sanctuary cities and blamed the Biden Administration for “obliterating our borders.”
“This country was overrun by illegal immigrants, murderers, rapists and just average everyday people,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “These people [Democrats] have no interest in cleaning up this mess.”
A few senators called for Noem’s resignation, including Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
“You should step down from your position. If you don’t, you should be removed by this president, and if not, Congress should impeach you,” Booker said, speaking over Noem.
“No one is above the law. You are violating separation of powers, violating court orders and routinely violating the civil rights of Americans,” Booker said. “This is a reckless and out-of-control agency that you are responsible for.”
Tillis described himself as “pro-law enforcement,” but then went on to express his disappointment in Noem. He accused DHS of focusing on detaining people to meet a quota instead of focusing on actual criminals.