Texas Democratic lawmakers and civil-rights advocates applauded the firing of Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security but said more heads should roll over the White House’s unbridled and unpopular immigration crackdown.
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced on social media he’s replacing Noem with U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, in the first big cabinet shakeup of his second term. Noem, who oversaw U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in her role, will become special envoy for a new initiative called “The Shield of the Americas,” he added.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a frequent critic of ICE’s heavy-handed tactics, said Noem abused her power as DHS secretary and now should face serious consequences.
“Kristi Noem operated without regard for the rule of law or basic decency as DHS Secretary. She denied reality, including the fact that U.S. citizens have been arrested and detained. She was never qualified for the role, and she proved it during her tenure,” the San Antonio Democrat tweeted.
“Under her leadership, ICE has targeted our communities, killed U.S. citizens including a San Antonio resident, sent hundreds of children to a trailer prison, and abused her power,” Castro added. “Despite her removal, Trump’s cruel mass deportation campaign rages on. The Congress must hold her and her successor accountable.”
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, said Noem’s dismissal shows the power of the public directing its anger. However, the congressman said the dismissals shouldn’t stop until they go further up the White House food chain.
“This is a big win. Kristi Noem was a disaster, and people speaking up got her fired,” Casar tweeted. “But Kristi Noem is not the architect of Trump’s dangerous mass deportation policies, and we can’t let up the pressure. Fire Stephen Miller.”
Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of advocacy group America’s Voice, called Noem’s departure a “reshuffling” that brings no more oversight to the White House or reins in its cruelty and abuses.
“We need accountability, more oversight, and not another penny in funding for this administration’s recklessness and mass deportation crusade,” Cárdenas said in an emailed statement.
Noem’s firing followed her terse back-to-back appearances before Congress this week, including an increasing pushback from Republican lawmakers.
The former South Dakota governor and Trump loyalist has faced rising scrutiny over her spending habits, her handling of civilian deaths in Minnesota, her delay in distributing disaster funds and accusations that she stymied federal investigations into her department.
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