WASHINGTON, March 4 (UPI) -- House Democrats grilled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday, one day after she appeared at a fiery Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
The House Judiciary Committee session came as the Department of Homeland Security approaches its third week of shutdown. While some Republicans cited heightened national security concerns after recent U.S. strikes on Iran as an impetus for a funding deal, Democrats refused to budge unless the Trump administration changes its immigration enforcement tactics.
Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and ranking member Jamie Raskin, R-Md., clashed in their opening statements, setting the tone for a sharply partisan meeting.
"Under Secretary Noem, fentanyl coming to the country is down, women and children are safer and most importantly, under Secretary Noem and President Trump's leadership, the border is now secure," Jordan said.
Jordan contrasted Noem's accomplishments with the Biden administration's border policies, sharply criticizing former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for failure to secure the southern border.
