- Secretary Kristi Noem defended aggressive immigration enforcement during a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
- The hearing addressed fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis involving two U.S. citizens.
- A DHS funding lapse continues as Democrats and Republicans spar over ICE tactics and oversight.
(MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA) — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on March 3, 2026, and criticized Democrats for allowing a DHS funding lapse that she said complicates enforcement and investigations.
Noem, who was scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on March 4, faced bipartisan scrutiny over ICE operations after fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis in January 2026.
The incidents included the deaths of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, and Renee Good. Lawmakers used the Senate hearing to press Noem on how enforcement actions are planned, supervised and reviewed when agents use force.
Noem rejected calls to halt enforcement operations, arguing the administration’s approach focuses on public safety and will continue even where local officials resist cooperation.
At the Senate hearing, Noem said ICE would not be deterred by “sanctuary politicians” whom she described as intent on creating conflict. She framed the administration’s targets as “dangerous illegal aliens,” saying the goal is to protect Americans, as promised by President Trump.
The Senate appearance, with a House hearing set for the following day, forced the department to defend its tactics under the glare of congressional oversight, where members can amplify allegations of misconduct and pressure DHS to adjust how it describes and justifies ICE operations.
Noem also used the hearing to argue that enforcement produces visible results in border communities. She cited Nogales, Arizona, and said locals were “thrilled” with the crackdown’s results.
In Nogales, she said residents were regaining “their way of life” after Biden-era policies she called “devastating,” and she highlighted efforts to block drug flows. Noem’s comments described a community she said supported the approach, though she did not provide independent measures of the outcomes she cited.
Debate over immigration enforcement ran into an immediate budget fight as lawmakers and DHS leaders sparred over the DHS funding lapse. Noem blamed Democrats for allowing the lapse amid objections to enforcement tactics, arguing the standoff undercuts the department’s work even as operations continue.
During the hearing, Noem said Homeland Security Investigations is “defunded right now during this shutdown,” yet continues work that includes rescuing trafficked children. She also said the agency continues collecting DNA and fingerprints to verify family units, a policy she said the Trump administration reinstated.
Noem tied some investigative priorities to Minnesota, accusing state and local officials of obstructing federal work. She accused Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, of perpetuating “unprecedented” fraud in Somali community programs and urged them to cooperate on investigations.
Border czar Tom Homan, a central public messenger for the enforcement push, announced an ICE personnel drawdown from Minnesota effective March 4. Homan said the remaining staffing would depend on ending “illegal and threatening activities against ICE.”
The drawdown message fit alongside the administration’s argument that resistance from local officials and activists affects how the department deploys resources, while also serving as a warning that DHS expects cooperation as it maintains a tougher enforcement posture.
Democrats, meanwhile, argued that the funding lapse and the crackdown reflect a broader conflict over tactics, oversight and civil rights. They stalled DHS funding after the lapse began last month, demanding changes to what they described as “aggressive tactics.”
House Democrats also launched an impeachment effort in January over alleged civil rights violations, blocked oversight of migrant detention centers, and favoritism in contracts to Republican-linked firms. The impeachment push faces slim odds in the Republican House.
State leaders added their own criticism, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro focusing on the Minneapolis operation. Shapiro called the operation “broken” and said it “must be terminated,” urging Trump to fire Noem as “wholly unqualified” or Congress to defund the operation through a six-bill package aimed at averting a shutdown.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized raids as well, citing a sharp rise in arrests in San Diego and pointing to community aid for affected families. Newsom’s statement highlighted the local fallout from enforcement actions, while Noem and other administration officials have argued the measures strengthen public safety.
Public sentiment has become part of the argument on Capitol Hill as lawmakers weigh oversight and funding. A February Reuters/Ipsos poll found that a majority of Americans believe agents have “gone too far,” even as the poll also showed majority support for deportations.
That tension has given both parties material for messaging: supporters cite backing for deportations to defend aggressive enforcement, while critics point to concerns about tactics to argue for tighter rules, stronger oversight and limits on certain operations.
Noem also faced questions about whether the administration drives ICE operations through quotas or arrest targets. She pushed back on the “quota” framing, while referencing a Fox News comment from Stephen Miller that described a daily arrest minimum for ICE.
Noem also said she would revet Biden-era green cards and naturalizations for deficiencies, especially refugees. Her comments signaled an effort to revisit prior immigration decisions, though she did not outline how the department would conduct the reviews or how broadly they would apply.
In discussing family verification, Noem returned to DNA testing as a fraud-prevention tool in aid programs and verification contexts. The administration has emphasized the measure as a way to verify family units, an approach that has drawn controversy in broader immigration debates even as Noem presented it as necessary to combat fraud.
