Kristi Noem Meets With Democratic Lawmaker Delia Ramirez

Kristi Noem Meets With Delia Ramirez

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was facing some incredibly sharp criticism and very intense questioning by Democratic Representative Delia Ramirez, in a very combative and closed-door meeting that they had in regards to ICE, and how they have been handling things around the nation. This shows the deep partisan divisions that are currently being faced by both parties, as they try to come to an agreement amid the shutdown. “The in-person meeting at DHS’ St. Elizabeths campus in Chicago involved Ramirez, her chief of staff and her legislative director, as well as Noem, a senior counselor, two deputy chiefs of staff and an undersecretary, according to Ramirez’s office,” according to NBC News.

“The US congresswoman Delia Ramirez, one of the most vocal pro-immigrant national lawmakers, pressed for the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristi Noem, to resign during a “combative” closed-door meeting between the two on Wednesday, according to a Guardian interview with the representative and a follow-up letter submitted to Noem,” according to The Guardian.

The rare one‑on‑one session was the first private encounter between Kristi Noem, appointed by President Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and a Democratic member of Congress since her tenure began last year. According to Ramirez, a vocal critic of the administration’s immigration tactics, the discussion quickly turned tense as she pressed Kristi Noem on what she called aggressive and potentially unlawful conduct by ICE officers and other DHS personnel.

Ramirez represents a faction of Democrats increasingly alarmed by what they see as an erosion of constitutional protections in immigration enforcement, which includes the use of force, and practices that are violating many due process rights, something that everyone is entitled to under the jurisdiction of the U.S. It seems that according to Ramirez, Kristi Noem was “playing dumb” when it came to those issues, and was dismissing several things that she was mentioning.

After the meeting, there was a letter that was sent to Kristi Noem by Ramirez, trying to reiterate her points and calling for a series of reforms within ICE. That includes allowing agents to barge into homes without a warrant, with minimum use of force standards. The congresswoman also renewed her demand that Kristi Noem resign or face impeachment for how she has been holding everyone accountable in these recent acts.

A Homeland Security spokesperson defended Noem’s engagement with lawmakers of both parties and accused Democrats of prioritizing politics over national security. The statement highlighted Noem’s willingness to meet with members of Congress regularly, even as the government funding gridlock continues.

Sources:

The Guardian: Kristi Noem meets with Democratic lawmaker in ‘combative’ meeting about ICE conduct

NBC News: Amid DHS shutdown, Noem meets with Democrat who called for her impeachment

Featured Image Courtesy of Gage Skidmore’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of Tomkie sFastyne’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License