Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa., lashed into Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday about DHS law enforcement officials shooting and killing two people during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
“Mistakes have been made,” Grassley said in his opening remarks. “Let’s make it clear. One death is too many. But officers should never be threatened or harmed while enforcing our laws,”
Noem is making her first appearance before a congressional panel since the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents. Noem’s appearance Tuesday is the first of two this week. She is due to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Funding for DHS lapsed last month, and Democrats have so far refused to back an appropriations bill over frustrations with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics. DHS still has billions of dollars at its disposal to keep some programs running thanks to last year’s massive tax-and-spending bill.
Democrats in Congress have been sharply critical of Noem’s leadership of DHS. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., introduced articles of impeachment for Noem in January after federal officers killed Good and Pretti.
