Several House Republicans have criticized the Democratic minority’s impeachment resolution targeting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, describing it as more of a “messaging exercise” than a genuine attempt at accountability.
The resolution, put forth by Rep. Robin Kelly on January 14, has garnered limited support from Democrats, even though it includes backing from over half of the Democratic caucus. Kelly shared on X that 146 out of 213 House members had signed the articles of impeachment.
Republican sources indicated a lack of cooperation from Democrats regarding the resolution. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) noted that a similar resolution aimed at President Biden’s DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2023 had drawn more bipartisan support compared to the efforts to impeach Noem.
Fallon claimed that Mayorkas has overseen significant crises at the border, resulting in millions of undocumented immigrants entering the U.S. In contrast, he praised Noem for fulfilling her responsibilities at the DHS.
Fallon remarked that Mayorkas’ record of low border crossings during the Trump administration shows that he has kept the border open, in direct contradiction to his duties. “Secretary Noem is doing her job,” he added.
Joining Fallon, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) had also pushed articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, stating that the Democratic resolution is fundamentally different. Biggs accused Mayorkas of intentionally ignoring federal law and misleading Congress, causing severe issues for communities and law enforcement.
“This resolution against Noem is purely partisan, lacking any factual foundation,” Biggs asserted. He emphasized that such actions dilute the seriousness of impeachment and that people can differentiate between real misconduct and politically motivated outrage.
Though Fallon and Biggs had hoped for their bill to move forward, it never reached a full House vote. An impeachment article from former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) passed with the Republican majority in 2024, formally impeaching Mayorkas, but it was rejected later by the Senate.
With the current Republican majority in the House and Senate, Democrats face a challenging path to impeach Noem. Fallon dismissed Kelly’s resolution as “just a messaging attempt” aimed at appeasing an increasingly progressive Democratic base.
Even if Democrats gain control of the House after the 2026 elections, achieving a two-thirds majority in the Senate seems unlikely. President Donald Trump recently stated that Noem has no plans to resign, emphasizing the ongoing partisan tensions.
Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt from Texas called the impeachment efforts another instance of Democratic hypocrisy, arguing that historical deportation numbers during the Obama administration illustrate a double standard in today’s political climate.
The articles of impeachment were introduced shortly after a Border Patrol-involved shooting incident in Minneapolis, raising questions about law enforcement actions. In that incident, a Border Patrol agent fatally shot Alex Preti during an arrest. Meanwhile, another fatal encounter occurred when Renee Nicole Good was shot by ICE agents in a confrontation.
Following Good’s death, protests erupted in Minneapolis, reflecting past civil unrest following similar tragic events. The chaotic scenes have drawn comparisons to the protests after George Floyd’s death, leading to calls for community-organized responses amid a perceived lack of police presence.
President Trump later urged Minnesota’s governor to maintain cooperation with ICE and the DHS during these critical situations.
