Key Takeaways
- •Secretary Noem reported 700,000 deportations and 3 million voluntary departures in one year, while Rep. Jordan (R, OH-4) announced a markup of legislation to penalize sanctuary jurisdictions.
- •Kristi Noem (Secretary, Department of Homeland Security) testified that rescinding previous enforcement memos and implementing media campaigns saved taxpayers $39 billion by encouraging illegal immigrants to leave voluntarily.
- •Rep. Raskin (D-MD) challenged Noem for labeling two citizens killed by ICE as domestic terrorists, but Noem refused to retract the statement, citing ongoing FBI and internal investigations.
- •Republicans credited Noem for securing the border and reducing fentanyl, while Democrats like Rep. Nadler (D, NY-12) accused DHS agents of lying to courts and using deceptive arrest tactics.
- •The committee will mark up the Shutdown Sanctuary Policies Act to allow "angel families" to sue local governments that refuse to honor federal immigration detainer requests.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The House Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing on March 4, 2026, to examine the operations and policy shifts of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem. The hearing served as a platform for the Republican majority to highlight a more aggressive approach to border security and interior enforcement, while Democratic members raised significant concerns regarding civil rights violations, agency transparency, and the use of taxpayer funds. Chairman Jim Jordan (R, OH-4) opened the hearing by contrasting the current administration’s policies with those of the previous Biden administration, specifically praising Secretary Noem for rescinding the "Mayorkas memo" and the "protected areas memo," which he argued had restricted federal law enforcement from apprehending illegal migrants in certain locations.
Key Testimony
Secretary Kristi Noem testified that under her leadership and the direction of President Trump, the border is now secure. She provided several key metrics to support this claim, stating that in the past year, DHS has overseen 700,000 deportations and that nearly three million illegal aliens have left the country, with 2.2 million of those departures being voluntary. Secretary Noem attributed these voluntary departures to a highly effective media campaign that she claimed saved taxpayers $39 billion in deportation costs. She further noted that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested over 1,500 known or suspected terrorists and 7,700 gang members. Additionally, she reported a 56 percent decrease in fentanyl trafficking over the southern border and the recovery of 145,000 children previously lost under the prior administration’s policies.
Overview
A central theme for the Republican members was the impact of "sanctuary jurisdictions." Chairman Jordan and Rep. Andy Biggs (R, AZ-5) criticized local officials in cities like Denver and Fairfax County for refusing to honor ICE detainers. They highlighted several cases where individuals released by local authorities despite ICE detainers went on to commit violent crimes, including the murder of American citizens. To address this, Chairman Jordan announced that the committee would mark up the Shutdown Sanctuary Policies Act of 2026, which would create a private right of action for "Angel Families"—families of victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants—to sue jurisdictions that fail to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Organizations & Entities
Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D, MD-8) and other Democratic members focused their questioning on what they characterized as a "reign of terror" and a "cover-up" regarding ICE enforcement tactics. Rep. Raskin highlighted the deaths of two American citizens in Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Preddy, who were shot by ICE agents during operations. He accused Secretary Noem of running a "smear campaign" by labeling the victims as domestic terrorists before investigations were complete. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D, NY-12) raised an incident at Columbia University where DHS agents allegedly used deceptive tactics—pretending to search for a missing child—to enter an apartment and arrest a student from Azerbaijan. Rep. Nadler also detailed the death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind refugee from Burma who died after being abandoned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in sub-freezing temperatures in Buffalo.
Overview
The hearing also touched upon the management and expenditures of the department. Rep. Raskin criticized the allocation of $220 million for media consultants and the purchase of luxury jets, including a $70 million 737 MAX, which he argued was an extravagant use of funds during a period of hollowing out other national security missions. He also questioned Secretary Noem’s residence in a United States Coast Guard (USCG) facility. Secretary Noem defended the jet purchase as necessary for mass deportations and clarified that she pays rent for her housing. Furthermore, Rep. Henry Johnson (D, GA-4) cited reports from the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) alleging that the department has systematically obstructed independent investigations.
Partisan dynamics were sharply divided. Republicans focused on "law and order" and the protection of American citizens from criminal aliens, while Democrats emphasized the protection of constitutional rights and the need for accountability for agent misconduct. Notable exchanges occurred when Rep. Raskin pressed Secretary Noem on whether she regretted labeling shooting victims as terrorists, and when Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D, CA-18) challenged the legality of using administrative warrants to enter private residences without judicial oversight. Secretary Noem maintained that administrative warrants are a lawful tool provided by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States.
In terms of next steps, the committee is scheduled to mark up the Shutdown Sanctuary Policies Act of 2026. Secretary Noem committed to providing further information on the department's hiring practices regarding January 6th offenders and indicated that internal reviews by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the National Use of Force Board are ongoing for the controversial enforcement incidents mentioned during the hearing.
Transcript
The committee will come to order. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. We welcome everyone to today's hearing on oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Onder, to lead us in the pledge.
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