May 14, 2025 - Politics & Policy

NJ Democrats who confronted ICE should be censured, Noem says

April Rubin

Kristi Noem photographed with a brown background — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testifies before a Senate subcommittee on May 8. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday said New Jersey Democrats should be censured for an altercation with immigration enforcement officers.

Why it matters: The lawmakers could be penalized for what they said was exercising their oversight authority.

"They don't deserve to be in the House," Noem said on Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime. "They should be censured by it."

Catch up quick: House Democrats clashed with a group of protesters outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday.

The mayor of Newark was arrested, and the Department of Homeland Security alleged that the lawmakers "stormed" the facility, which the lawmakers' offices disputed.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman said the DHS is creating "an environment of intimidation."

Zoom in: Noem in the interview accused the House members of committing felonies.

"What's happening in this country and what agendas the Democrats are embracing is absurd, and it's not American," she said.

Behind the scenes: Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) on Monday filed a resolution to remove Democratic Reps. Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver from their committees.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin previously said the lawmakers could be arrested.

Go deeper: Democrat threatened with arrest says DHS creating "environment of intimidation"

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NJ Democrats who confronted ICE should be censured, Noem says

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