BREAKING: U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) calls to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, says he will introduce a bill to abolish ICE..

In a fiery escalation of tensions over immigration enforcement, U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI) declared on January 14, 2026, that he will seek to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and plans to introduce legislation aimed at abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The announcement came during a press conference on Capitol Hill, amid widespread Democratic outrage following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman and mother of three, by an ICE agent during an operation in Minneapolis. The incident, which occurred last week, has sparked protests, calls for accountability, and renewed scrutiny of ICE tactics under the current administration.
Thanedar, a Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability for the House Committee on Homeland Security, has been vocal in his criticism of Secretary Noem. He accused her of overseeing a department plagued by “lawlessness,” including alleged obstruction of congressional oversight, violations of due process, and failures to hold agents accountable for excessive force.
“ICE is totally out of control, and this week I intend to introduce a bill to abolish ICE,” Thanedar stated emphatically during the event. He described the agency as “beyond reform” and linked the Minneapolis shooting to a pattern of misconduct, including multiple incidents involving DHS agents, deaths in detention centers, and obstruction of lawmakers’ access to facilities.
The congressman’s push to abolish ICE aligns with progressive calls that have gained traction in recent years, particularly among Democratic lawmakers who argue the agency cannot be reformed and must be dismantled, with its functions potentially redistributed to other federal entities for more humane and accountable immigration enforcement.
This comes as a separate impeachment effort against Secretary Noem gains momentum. On the same day, Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) formally introduced three articles of impeachment against Noem, accusing her of:
Obstruction of Congress (by denying lawmakers access to ICE facilities for oversight),
Violation of public trust (through directives allowing arrests without warrants and ignoring due process),
Self-dealing (allegedly steering a federal contract to a firm connected to a friend).
Over 70 House Democrats have co-sponsored Kelly’s resolution, with Thanedar among the supporters. He has publicly endorsed the impeachment push, stating that Noem’s actions “go beyond incompetence” and constitute law-breaking.

Secretary Noem, a former South Dakota Governor who was confirmed as the 8th Secretary of Homeland Security on January 25, 2025, in a bipartisan Senate vote, has defended the department’s operations. She has emphasized targeting criminal noncitizens and restoring border security under President Trump’s directives. Noem has dismissed impeachment efforts as “silly” and highlighted successes in reducing border encounters and removing criminal individuals.
The developments highlight deep partisan divides on immigration policy. While Democrats frame the Minneapolis incident as evidence of systemic abuse and a “reign of terror,” supporters of Noem argue that such tragedies, though regrettable, occur in high-risk enforcement situations exacerbated by sanctuary policies and resistance to federal authority.

Thanedar’s proposed Abolish ICE Act would dismantle the agency, created in 2003, and end its current enforcement powers. He has previously introduced measures to end qualified immunity for ICE agents and restrict their ability to detain U.S. citizens.
As the impeachment articles and the abolition bill move forward in a Republican-controlled House, both face long odds of passage. However, they signal intensified Democratic opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration agenda and could fuel ongoing debates over accountability, civil rights, and border security in the lead-up to future elections.
The family of Renee Nicole Good has called for a full investigation, justice, and reforms, while memorials and vigils continue in Minneapolis. The incident has also prompted broader discussions about the use of force in immigration enforcement and the need for transparency.
This story is developing as lawmakers on both sides prepare for further hearings and potential floor action.