House Republicans are sounding the alarm over a Democratic resolution to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, introduced on Jan. 14, 2026. The resolution, led by Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., has garnered support from 146 of the 213 House Democrats, as Kelly noted on social media Monday night. GOP sources on Capitol Hill report that Democrats have made no bipartisan outreach on this effort.
Republicans have labeled the move a partisan exercise, contrasting it with their successful 2024 impeachment of former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, while recent deadly incidents involving federal agents in Minneapolis add tension to the debate. The issue continues to highlight deep divisions over border security and federal authority. GOP lawmakers argue the resolution lacks merit and unity, even among Democrats.
The debate over Noem’s tenure has sparked sharp criticism from Republican leaders. They contend that Democrats are pushing a baseless agenda rather than focusing on substantive policy solutions. This resolution, introduced before the tragic events in Minneapolis, seems to many on the right to be a distraction from real governance.
On Jan. 14, Rep. Kelly introduced the impeachment articles targeting Noem, well before two fatal incidents involving federal agents later that month. Despite the majority backing within her party, a significant number of House Democrats have yet to sign on. GOP lawmakers see this as evidence of a fractured effort lacking broad appeal, Fox News reported.
Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, who spearheaded a 2023 impeachment push against then-DHS Secretary Mayorkas, has dismissed Kelly’s resolution as a “messaging exercise.” He argues that Noem’s performance stands in stark contrast to past failures under the Biden administration. Fallon points to record-low border crossings in the first year of President Donald Trump’s current term as proof of her effectiveness.
“Secretary Noem is doing her job at DHS, whereas Mayorkas failed,” Fallon told reporters. It’s hard to ignore the irony that Democrats, now eager to oust a competent official, stood silent during what many conservatives view as catastrophic border mismanagement under their own watch.
Fallon’s 2023 effort with Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., to impeach Mayorkas didn’t reach a House vote, but a later push by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene succeeded in 2024 with a narrow 214-213 tally. The Senate, then under Democratic control, rejected conviction 51-49, falling short of the required two-thirds majority. No Democrats supported the Mayorkas impeachment in either chamber.
Biggs, now running for Arizona governor, has called the Noem resolution “a partisan stunt with no factual or constitutional basis.” He argues it cheapens the impeachment process itself. Conservatives note that while Mayorkas faced credible accusations of neglecting federal law, Noem’s record shows tangible progress on border security.
Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, echoed this sentiment, labeling the resolution a “witch hunt” and pointing to Democratic hypocrisy. “When Barack Obama was deporting people like hot cakes, they did nothing about it,” Hunt said. Isn’t it curious that Democrats now cry foul over enforcement when their own past policies were far harsher?
On Jan. 14, the same day the resolution was introduced, a tragic event unfolded in Minneapolis when Renee Nicole Good, 37, was fatally shot by an ICE agent. DHS reported Good attempted to obstruct agents with her vehicle, accelerating toward an officer who fired four shots in self-defense, one striking her head. The officer sustained internal bleeding from the incident.
Ten days later, on Jan. 24, another fatal encounter occurred in Minneapolis involving Border Patrol and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Veterans Affairs ICU nurse. Secretary Noem stated Pretti “violently resisted” arrest, and the agent who fired was “fearing for his life.” These incidents, though unrelated to the impeachment’s timing, have intensified scrutiny of federal enforcement tactics.
Following Good’s death, protests erupted in Minneapolis with minimal local police presence, and barricades reminiscent of post-George Floyd zoning were erected. President Trump spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday morning to address the unrest. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted Trump urged Walz to “work together peacefully” with federal agents.
With Republicans now holding majorities in both the House and Senate, Democrats face an uphill battle to advance their resolution against Noem. Even if they reclaim the House in the 2026 midterms, securing a two-thirds Senate majority by 2027 remains unlikely. President Trump has firmly stated that Noem will not step down.
For many conservatives, this impeachment push reeks of political theater rather than principle. GOP lawmakers argue Democrats are catering to a progressive base while ignoring Noem’s measurable success on border policy. The contrast with Mayorkas, who oversaw what critics call a border collapse, couldn’t be clearer to those prioritizing national security.
As tensions simmer in Minneapolis and Washington, the divide over federal authority and border enforcement only deepens. Republicans stand united behind Noem, viewing this resolution as a desperate attempt by a divided opposition to regain relevance. The question remains whether Democrats can muster the support—or the rationale—to sustain this fight.
