U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement at an oversight hearing with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. The hearing marked Secretary Noem’s first appearance before the committee since the beginning of the Trump Administration.
Durbin criticized Secretary Noem for actions he said undermined DHS's mission by instructing federal agents to arrest both U.S. citizens and immigrants indiscriminately, including individuals without criminal records or community threat, and detaining them in poor conditions without legal representation. He acknowledged the presence of family members and friends of those detained or deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the audience.
Durbin also raised concerns about immigration enforcement tactics under Noem’s leadership, stating: “We are joined today by friends and family members of individuals currently in ICE detention or who have been deported. I thank them for traveling here today. Their presence is a reminder that the policies implemented by DHS under your leadership, Madam Secretary, have a devastating impact on real people… Under your leadership, the Homeland Security Department has been devoid of any moral compass or respect for the rule of law.”
He continued: “Without hesitation or remorse, DHS agents have wreaked havoc in our cities—I’ve seen it in the City of Chicago—and acted with unspeakable cruelty against children, immigrant families, and American citizens. This Administration’s reckless immigration enforcement campaign is creating fear in communities and eroding the foundational tenets of our democracy. Democrats believe that Congress must do its job and rein in ICE abuses by requiring immigration agents to simply follow the same rules as local police.”
Durbin alleged misuse of resources within DHS: “While Republicans claim the DHS shutdown is putting us at risk, the reality is this Administration has engaged in mass layoffs of career national security officials and diverted many others from protecting the homeland [to] the President’s mass deportation campaign. This is all while Secretary Noem is sitting on an unprecedented amount of [funds from Congress] … And she is spending nearly $300 million on a fleet of luxury private jets so she can travel in style.”
He challenged claims regarding public safety improvements: “Secretary Noem has repeatedly claimed that the Department is arresting the ‘worst of the worst’ and making American cities safer. In fact, less than 14 percent of immigrants arrested during Trump’s first year back in office had charges or convictions for violent criminal offenses… Immigration agents arrived in cities without consulting local law enforcement, they roam the streets in paramilitary gear, and [they] arrest and detain people based on the color of their skin, their accents, and the language they speak… That is not a public safety operation, that is a paramilitary occupation. And Secretary Noem has made excessive force the Department’s default position.”
Referring to incidents in Illinois during “Operation Midway Blitz,” Durbin described aggressive actions by agents: “In my home state of Illinois, during the so-called ‘Operation Midway Blitz,’ agents violently attacked, tackled, arrested, and detained immigrants and citizens. They conducted a military-style raid of an apartment complex—kicking down doors and zip-tying children. A Border Patrol agent shot an American citizen, Marimar Martinez, multiple times… She miraculously survived. After the incident, the agent bragged… ‘five shots, seven holes.’”
On recent administration moves regarding immigration enforcement quotas: “Earlier this month, the Trump Administration deployed Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis... But the reality is...the Administration has not backed down from Stephen Miller’s 3,000 person-a-day arrest quota.”
Durbin highlighted problems with detention conditions: “Even with tens of billions of dollars at their disposal, the Administration already cannot meet basic needs... Detained individuals...are subject to abusive conditions...including Liam Ramos—the five-year old arrested with his father in Minnesota—who became ill in detention.” He noted deaths occurring in ICE custody: “We have also seen an unprecedented number of deaths in ICE custody. Seven people died last December alone, and nine have died this year.”
Addressing legal accountability issues within ICE operations: “Secretary Noem and her rogue immigration agents seem to believe they are above law... Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz...found that ICE violated at least 96 court orders...hundreds of federal judges have ruled more than 4,440 times that ICE is detaining immigrants illegally.”
Durbin referenced concerns about election interference: “Now Administration is even threatening to interfere with our elections....Top Trump ally Steve Bannon recently said,...‘We’re gonna have ICE surround polls…’ Secretary Noem went further [when she said], we need to ‘make sure that we have right people voting.’”
He concluded with warnings about broader threats to civil rights: “History teaches us that immigrants are first target when authoritarian regime seeks to erode civil rights...And we know Donald Trump does not respect constitutional rights…”
“Secretary Noem,...this is first time we’ve ever met....no official on this side ...or other is above law....You swore an oath to uphold Constitution,...so that meaningful accountability can begin for terror we are witnessing in America every day.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee holds legislative authority over judicial matters nationwide as part of its oversight duties (official website). It aims to uphold constitutional protections through reviewing legislation related to federal law enforcement agencies like DHS (official website). The committee includes senators from both major parties led by a chairperson (official website) based out of Washington D.C., impacting civil rights policy across states (official website).
Video footage as well as audio recordings from Durbin's opening statement were made available following his remarks.
