A House Democrat halted a committee hearing on illegal marijuana-growing operations with a call to subpoena Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for how the department’s law enforcement officers have been “terrorizing” illegal immigrants in the United States.
During a House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability hearing, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) played two clips of arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as they intercepted suspected illegal immigrants on the street, which she said also mandated oversight by the committee rather than the topic of the hearing.
“I want to thank the panelists that are here, but I need to talk about what’s happening here right now, all over the country,” Ramirez said. “I want to start by saying that the Department of Homeland Security is a national security threat. I call it a force terrorizing communities with good reason. Men in masks, unmarked cars, no badges, no body cameras. And arrests without valid warrants all results in fear, chaos, and harm.
“We need a full, thorough investigation in every single death and separation,” Ramirez continued. “Every orphan created is Kristi Noem’s responsibility. … I move that the committee subpoena Secretary Kristi Noem.”
Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK), the presiding subcommittee chairman, moved on to the next member for questioning when Ramirez interrupted and requested her subpoena request be taken up.
An unspecified Republican moved to table her motion, and Republicans defeated it by a 5-3 vote.
TRUMP DHS LOCATED 22,000 MISSING MIGRANT CHILDREN WHO CROSSED BORDER UNDER BIDEN
Ramirez’s interruption follows other outbursts in recent months when Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee have moved to subpoena Noem and other top Trump administration officials involved in crafting and implementing immigration policy.
No such Democratic effort has been successful, given Republicans’ majority control of the committee.