DHS Chief Noem to Face Congress Amid Scrutiny Over Minnesota Immigration Operations
EXCLUSIVE: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on March 4, according to Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), marking a significant congressional appearance amid intense political and public scrutiny of the administration's immigration enforcement policies.
The hearing, framed by Chairman Jordan as part of routine oversight, will nonetheless unfold against the backdrop of two high-profile investigations. The FBI is examining the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during separate encounters with federal immigration authorities in Minnesota last month. Secretary Noem initially described the deceased as "domestic terrorists," a characterization made before the conclusion of investigations that drew bipartisan criticism.
In a brief statement, Chairman Jordan told Fox News Digital that the hearing would focus on broader policy issues, notably the ongoing conflict between federal authorities and so-called sanctuary jurisdictions. "When a local jail holds someone who has committed a crime and is also here illegally, but refuses to cooperate with ICE, the vast majority of Americans see that as a fundamental failure," Jordan said. He emphasized the hearing was not a direct response to a recent demand from committee Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), for a probe into Noem's remarks on the Minnesota incidents.
The House testimony follows Noem's scheduled appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3. These back-to-back sessions spotlight a Department of Homeland Security entangled in hundreds of legal challenges to its arrest and detention practices. The Minnesota shootings prompted President Trump to reassign the leadership of immigration operations in the state, installing former ICE Director Tom Homan as a special advisor with a mandate to oversee reforms.
When questioned about the agency's actions prior to Homan's deployment, Noem stated DHS could "always do better." President Trump has since defended his secretary on social media, alleging political attacks are motivated by her gender and performance.
Reaction & Analysis:
Mark Chen, a policy analyst at the Center for Immigration Studies: "These hearings are crucial for oversight, but they risk becoming a political theater. The core issue remains the dangerous gap created by sanctuary policies that hinder federal-local cooperation on individuals who pose a demonstrable risk."
Dr. Elena Rodriguez, political science professor at Georgetown University: "The sequencing is telling. Testifying on 'sanctuary cities' immediately after a controversy involving citizen deaths reframes the narrative toward systemic policy debates, potentially deflecting from specific accountability questions regarding the use of force and premature public statements."
Sarah Jenkins, spokesperson for Families for Justice advocacy group: "It's an absolute disgrace. Noem labeled two dead Americans as terrorists without evidence, and now Congress wants to talk about paperwork and jurisdictions? This hearing should be about the lethal consequences of dehumanizing rhetoric and unchecked enforcement power. Where is the urgency for the victims' families?"
Former DHS official Robert Keane (2009-2017): "Operational tragedies like these create a crisis point for any agency. The hearings will test whether Congress seeks genuine understanding and corrective measures, or simply uses the moment to score political points on an eternally polarized issue."