Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced a difficult few hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, fielding tough questions from both Democrats and some Republicans on a range of issues including the deaths of two US citizens in Minneapolis, the use of executive jets, a controversial ad campaign and whether immigration officers could be deployed to polling locations ahead of the midterms.
Deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good
One of the most charged exchanges of the hearing centered on Noem’s early characterization of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two US citizens killed by DHS officers in Minneapolis earlier this year. Senators pressed Noem to retract her initial descriptions of the two as domestic terrorists. She declined on both counts.
Noem tried to draw a distinction, saying she had not called Pretti a domestic terrorist but rather said his actions appeared to be an act of domestic terrorism. However, video of Pretti’s killing contradicted her earlier claim that he had brandished a firearm, showing his gun was not visible until officers already had their hands on him. The gun was taken from him seconds before he was shot.
Senator Amy Klobuchar asked Noem if she had anything to say to Pretti’s parents. Noem offered condolences but declined to apologize. Senator Dick Durbin asked directly whether she would retract her statements. She did not.
The Ad Campaign Controversy
Republican Senator John Kennedy was among the most critical voices in the room, confronting Noem over a $220 million DHS advertising campaign that prominently featured her. Kennedy said his research showed the contracts were not properly bid out, and that in one case a company was chosen just 11 days after it was formed. He also pointed to reporting that a lucrative subcontract went to the husband of a former DHS spokesperson.
Noem said she had nothing to do with picking the contractors and that the president had tasked her with communicating the department’s deportation efforts to the country. Kennedy was unconvinced, saying outside the hearing that he was not going to sit quietly while a cabinet secretary put herself on TV to the tune of $220 million without saying something.
ICE at Polling Places
Senator Chris Coons pressed Noem repeatedly on whether immigration enforcement officers could be deployed to polling locations ahead of November’s midterm elections. Noem said there were no plans to do so but declined to explicitly rule it out when pushed. The exchange drew attention given recent comments from former White House adviser Stephen Bannon suggesting agents should be present at polling places.
Executive Jet Use
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse displayed a photo of a bedroom inside a $70 million executive jet, asking what kind of deportee would justify being flown in a luxury aircraft with bedroom accommodations. Noem said the photo was not accurate, that the bedroom was being removed during a refurbishment and that the jet would be used for deportation flights as well as executive travel. She said she had been on the plane once.
Cricket and Calls to Resign
Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who is not seeking re-election, delivered some of the hearing’s most pointed criticism. He raised Noem’s widely reported memoir account of killing her 14-month-old dog Cricket and a family goat, framing it as a reflection of her leadership style. He accused DHS of arresting innocent American citizens and called her leadership disastrous. He also said the department’s approach to deportation was damaging public support for immigration enforcement overall. “The way you’re going about deporting them is wrong,” Tillis said.
Why This Matters to You
This hearing touched on issues that affect everyday Americans directly. The deaths of two US citizens at the hands of federal agents, the possible deployment of immigration officers to polling places and the use of taxpayer money on a $220 million ad campaign featuring the secretary herself are not abstract policy debates. They are questions about accountability, civil rights and how public money is being spent.
For voters heading to the polls in November, the question of whether immigration enforcement officers could be present at polling locations is particularly significant. It is worth thinking about: Should a cabinet secretary face consequences for making public claims about US citizens that are later contradicted by video evidence? What oversight exists over DHS spending on advertising? And with both Republicans and Democrats raising serious concerns about Noem’s leadership, what does that say about the direction of the department at a time of heightened national security?
