Jeffries Targets Kristi Noem in Democrats’ First Move if They Take Back the House

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said this week that Democrats are prepared to put Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem under immediate scrutiny if they regain control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections.

Speaking on “The Bulwark” podcast, Jeffries singled out Noem as a likely first witness before a Democratic-led Congress. 

“It’s my expectation that Kristi Noem will be one of the first people hauled up to Congress shortly after the gavels change hands to get a real understanding for the American people as to this conduct that has taken place: the lack of respect for due process, for the rule of law, the unleashing of masked agents on law-abiding immigrant communities, and the disappearing of people in some instances, to other countries without any real evidence that criminal behavior took place,” Jeffries said.

The New York Democrat accused the administration of disregarding basic constitutional protections. 

He argued that federal agents had overstepped their authority in deportation operations, sometimes uprooting families with no criminal records. 

According to Jeffries, even U.S. citizen children had been sent abroad “to a place that they’ve never known.”

At the center of his criticism is the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, an obscure 18th-century law, to move Venezuelan nationals to a prison in El Salvador. 

While Jeffries said he supports the removal of violent offenders, he claimed the broader strategy unfairly targeted “law-abiding immigrant families” who had established lives in the United States.

President Trump launched his deportation initiative early in his second term, making aggressive enforcement a signature issue. 

The White House has defended the approach as necessary to restore order at the southern border, while Republicans in Congress argue it is essential for public safety. 

Supporters frequently highlight cases of illegal immigrants with criminal histories who were released into communities, warning that loosening enforcement would put Americans at risk, according to TownHall.

Polling reflects just how divided the public remains on immigration. 

In a June Pew Research Center survey, 42 percent of Americans said they approved of Trump’s immigration approach, while 45 percent said they disapproved. 

Partisan lines were sharp: nearly four out of five Republicans, or 78 percent, backed the president’s policies, compared with 81 percent of Democrats who opposed them.

The same survey showed shifting attitudes toward border security. Support for expanding the southern wall has risen to 56 percent, up a full 10 points from 2019. 

Still, a majority—61 percent—opposed sending illegal immigrants to El Salvador or shutting down asylum requests altogether.

Another poll, conducted in July by The Economist and YouGov, found similar divisions. 

More than half of respondents, or 52 percent, judged Trump’s policies as “too harsh,” and 54 percent felt ICE had exceeded reasonable limits. 

Yet 57 percent said immigrants mostly work jobs Americans avoid, and 64 percent agreed immigration is an essential part of national identity.

For Democrats, the challenge lies in crafting a compelling alternative. 

Critics say their current strategy is built more on opposition to Trump than on presenting specific reforms. 

With immigration consistently ranking among voters’ top concerns, Jeffries’ vow to confront Noem signals Democrats intend to sharpen their message heading into the next election cycle.

WATCH:

“It’s my expectation that Kristi Noem will be one of the first people hauled up to Congress shortly after the gavels change hands, to get a real understanding for the American people as to this conduct that has taken place.”@RepJeffries joins @Timodc in the latest Bulwark Pod: pic.twitter.com/Uzz5a9lAxV

— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) August 18, 2025

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