House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday that Democrats have not ruled out impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if they regain control of the House following the 2026 midterm elections, escalating partisan tensions over immigration enforcement and a deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis.
Jeffries made the remarks during an appearance on All In with Chris Hayes, telling host Chris Hayes that Democrats are weighing their options. “Yeah, we haven’t ruled anything in or anything out in terms of the proper way to bring about accountability,” Jeffries said, adding that Democratic lawmakers are expected to begin discussions on possible responses early next week.
Jeffries sharply criticized Noem, accusing her of being “deeply unqualified, deeply unserious and deeply dangerous.” He went further, calling her “a complete and total disgrace” and arguing she should never have been confirmed by the Senate to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
The comments came in response to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Jeffries accused Noem and other Trump administration officials of having “slandered” Macklin Good by labeling her actions as “domestic terrorism” and alleging she attempted to run over an ICE agent with her vehicle.
“That agent should be criminally investigated to the full extent of the law,” Jeffries said, adding that Congress must also respond legislatively. He argued lawmakers need to “limit or address decisively the lawlessness that the Department of Homeland Security has unleashed on the American people.” Jeffries framed the issue as part of what he described as a broader crisis, saying Democrats must stay focused on “ending this national nightmare in the United States.”
The shooting and Noem’s public response have drawn criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, said it was “unusual” for a senior law enforcement official to draw firm conclusions while a scene was still being processed. Tillis suggested either Noem possesses additional information that has yet to be shared or spoke prematurely when advising the president.
Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee have called on Republicans to bring Noem in to testify. In a letter to committee chairman Andrew Garbarino, the panel’s ranking Democrat, Bennie Thompson, warned that Republicans who fail to act over the shooting “are as culpable as President Trump himself for the harm he is causing our great country.”
The criticism has extended beyond Capitol Hill. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for Noem’s resignation, with his press office stating she “should resign — before more Americans are killed” and must be held accountable.
On Friday, the White House released video obtained by Alpha News showing the ICE officer’s perspective before the shooting. In the footage, Macklin Good is seen with her window down telling the officer, “That’s alright dude, I’m not mad at you. I’m not mad at you.” The video shows the officer moving around the vehicle as a woman heckles him and grabs the passenger-side door. Officers are heard ordering Macklin Good to get out of the car. The camera does not capture the moment shots were fired, but audio records the gunfire as the SUV drives off and crashes into a parked vehicle, followed by a man’s voice using profanity.
The release of the video has done little to calm the political storm, as Democrats continue to press for investigations, hearings, and potential consequences while Republicans raise concerns about rushing to judgment.
