Durbin Questions Secretary Noem About Immigration Campaign

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing. Durbin first pressed Secretary Noem about her labeling Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and Marimar Martinez as “domestic terrorists,” and refusing to apologize to their families. Both Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti were shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, and Ms. Martinez was shot five times by a Border Patrol agent in Chicago.

“We have ample video evidence and eyewitness testimony proving you were wrong. Your statements caused immeasurable pain to these families. Let me give you an opportunity to do the right thing. Do you retract these statements identifying these individuals as ‘domestic terrorists?’” Durbin asked.

Secretary Noem refused to retract her statement.

“Where did you get that information? In a recent hearing before the HSGAC [the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs] Committee, CBP and ICE officials testified under oath that their agencies did not inform you that Pretti was a ‘domestic terrorist,’” Durbin said.

Secretary Noem responded that she was getting information “on the ground.” She continued to deflect and responded it was a “chaotic scene” in Minneapolis.

“You believe calling the victims in that violence [caused by ICE’s aggressive presence in Minneapolis] ‘domestic terrorists’ as a way to calm the scene?” Durbin asked.

Secretary Noem again deflected and blamed the “chaos” in Minneapolis. Durbin noted that DHS has terrorized communities and caused this “chaos” by indiscriminately arresting people and wielding unnecessary and violent force against people, including American citizens.

“How did you think branding them as ‘domestic terrorists’ at that scene was somehow going to calm the situation?” Durbin again asked.

Secretary Noem refused to answer Durbin directly.

“Is it so hard to say you were wrong… and when you fail, do you admit it publicly?” Durbin asked.

Secretary Noem responded to Durbin’s question by saying “absolutely,” but didn’t acknowledge that she was wrong in calling Ms. Good, Mr. Pretti, and Ms. Martinez “domestic terrorists.”

Durbin then asked about DHS hiding the facts from the American public—specifically about deaths in ICE detention facilities. Geraldo Luna Campos died in immigration detention. DHS claimed he killed himself, but an independent medical examiner found his death was a homicide. Witnesses stated Mr. Campos was strangled by the guards at the detention facility. Instead of investigating this death, DHS tried to deport these witnesses. It took a judge intervening to ensure these fact witnesses remain in the country for an investigation to be conducted.

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