U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor ahead of an oversight hearing with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. The hearing will focus on allegations that DHS has engaged in indiscriminate immigration enforcement under Secretary Noem’s leadership.
“Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will convene an oversight hearing where we will finally hear from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem,” Durbin said. “I want to thank Chairman Grassley for holding the hearing after months and months of stonewalling by the Secretary… Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is operating without a moral compass or any respect for the rule of law. Tomorrow, she must answer for this recklessness.”
Durbin criticized what he described as a shift away from targeting individuals accused or convicted of violent offenses. He cited DHS data indicating that fewer than 14 percent of those arrested during President Trump’s first year back in office had violent charges or convictions. According to Durbin, “The Administration has claimed it’s targeting the ‘worst of the worst,’ but DHS’ own data shows that, during the President’s first year back in office, fewer than 14 percent of those arrested had charges or convictions for violent offenses.” He added that immigration agents have continued to make up to 3,000 arrests daily by detaining American citizens and others without criminal records.
Durbin recounted incidents involving use of force by federal agents against U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both killed during encounters with immigration officials. He also discussed “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago and told the story of Marimar Martinez—a U.S. citizen who was shot five times by a federal agent before all charges against her were dropped.
“Let’s call this what it is—political theater and deliberate cruelty intended to terrorize our communities. My home state of Illinois saw it play out on our streets, with dangerous consequences,” Durbin said. “Last month, I met Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen and a teaching assistant at a Montessori school in Chicago… She didn’t do anything provocative and agents turned their weapons on her and shot her five times. Five times! Miraculously, she survived. But the agent involved bragged about shooting her and covering up the evidence… The Administration brought trumped-up charges against her, and what happened several weeks later? They dropped all the charges.”
Addressing ongoing discussions around reforms at DHS, Durbin argued for policy changes such as requiring federal agents to remove masks while performing duties and show identification as well as obtaining judicial warrants before entering homes.
“The American people are sick and tired of seeing this campaign of terror and lawlessness unfold before their very eyes. That’s why Senate Democrats have drawn a hard line in DHS funding negotiations, demanding commonsense basic police reforms to rein in ICE’s lawlessness. These reforms include removing the masks, displaying identification, stopping roving patrols, obtaining judicial warrants to enter private homes, and following the same use-of-force standards that law enforcement agencies across America already follow,” Durbin said.
Durbin closed his remarks stating that committee Democrats intend to question Secretary Noem closely regarding actions taken under her leadership at DHS: “Tomorrow, Secretary Noem will finally come before the Senate Judiciary Committee and answer for what happened on her watch. Believe me, she has a lot to answer for. Under her leadership, DHS has become President Trump’s de facto paramilitary force—an agency determined to violate court orders, lie to the American people, disregard our [First and Fourth] Amendment rights, and racially profile immigrants and U.S. citizens alike with the ‘Kavanaugh stops.’”
Durbin concluded: “The American people are demanding answers, and it is the duty of the Senate Judiciary Committee to ask these important questions. My Democratic colleagues and I intend to do just that.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee oversees legislative matters related to constitutional protections public safety nationwide through its hearings such as this one with Secretary Noem; it reviews legislation impacting civil rights; evaluates judicial nominations; oversees federal law enforcement; consists of members from both major parties; operates under a chairperson; serves as a standing committee influencing legal matters across America; all according to its official website.
Video footage as well as audio recordings from Senator Durbin's remarks are available online.
