House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has escalated a political showdown that’s capturing headlines coast-to-coast, issuing one of the most aggressive warnings of the year: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem must be fired — immediately — or Democrats will begin impeachment proceedings against her. The dramatic announcement comes amid growing outrage over recent federal actions by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its agencies, especially Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Minnesota.
In a primetime interview on CNN News Central, Jeffries laid out the party’s demands with striking force. He called Noem “malignant, corrupt, [and] unqualified,” saying she “never should have been confirmed” and blaming her leadership for what he called unchecked violence by DHS agents. Jeffries made clear that firing Noem is just the beginning — and that impeachment would immediately follow if she remains in office.
The political stakes are soaring. Democrats’ push against Noem has gained real momentum: a formal impeachment resolution sponsored by Rep. Robin Kelly now has over 160 co-sponsors in the House, and multiple members of both parties are demanding accountability after controversial federal enforcement actions. These include the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renée Nicole Good by immigration agents in Minneapolis, incidents that have fueled widespread public anger and intensified calls for leadership change at DHS.
Jeffries also tied the fight to the imminent federal budget deadline. With DHS funding set to expire Friday at midnight, Democrats are refusing to support the spending bill unless aggressive reforms are attached — including judicial warrants for immigration actions, limits on mask usage by agents, universal body-camera use, and criminal accountability for misconduct. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have echoed similar demands, warning that failure to act could lead to a partial government shutdown.
Republicans are responding with outrage. Many dismiss the impeachment push as political theater and warn it would deepen partisan divisions — especially since the GOP still controls both chambers of Congress, making actual removal unlikely. But even some Republican lawmakers have quietly criticized Noem’s handling of the Minneapolis incidents, signaling rare cracks within party ranks.
Public reactions are equally intense. Supporters of Jeffries hail the ultimatum as long-overdue accountability for DHS leadership, while critics accuse Democrats of overreach and distraction from other national priorities. Whatever one’s view, this confrontation has transformed the immigration and homeland security debate into one of the most consequential political fights of 2026 — with impeachment threats, budget battles, and bipartisan unease all at play.
👀 Is this necessary accountability — or an overblown political escalation?
The resolution will shape power dynamics in Washington for months to come.