Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing With DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. During his opening, Durbin blasted Secretary Noem for undermining the mission of DHS by directing federal agents to indiscriminately arrest U.S. citizens and immigrants-most of whom do not have a criminal record and do not pose a threat to their community-and detain them in inhumane conditions without access to legal representation. Durbin acknowledged the family and friends of loved ones detained or deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the audience today.

Durbin also criticized Secretary Noem's approach to immigration policy. Rather than focusing on the "worst of the worst," as President Trump repeatedly promised on the campaign trail, DHS has terrorized communities by indiscriminately arresting people and wielding unnecessary and violent force against people, including American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both of whom were killed by federal immigration agents. Today's oversight hearing is Secretary Noem's first appearance in front of the Committee, despite Durbin calling on her to testify repeatedly since the start of the Trump Administration.

Key Quotes:

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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.'"

"Earlier this month, the Trump Administration deployed Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis, supposedly to end 'Operation Metro Surge.' The President is reading his sinking poll numbers and finally recognizing that the American people are sick and tired and fed up with these heavily armed, masked agents causing chaos in our cities. But the reality is the Administration has not backed down from Stephen Miller's 3,000 person-a-day arrest quota."

"Even with tens of billions of dollars at their disposal, the Administration already cannot meet the basic needs of the 65,000 people currently in immigration detention. Detained individuals, including children and infants, are subject to abusive conditions and inadequate medical care. This includes Liam Ramos-the five-year old arrested with his father in Minnesota-who became ill in detention."

"We have also seen an unprecedented number of deaths in ICE custody. Seven people died last December alone, and nine have died this year."

"Secretary Noem and her rogue immigration agents seem to believe they are above the law and accountable only to the President and Stephen Miller's evil vision of a hateful America. Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of Minnesota-a Republican appointee-found that ICE violated at least 96 court orders in Minnesota in January alone-which he said was 'likely more … than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.' And hundreds of federal judges have ruled more than 4,440 times that ICE is detaining immigrants illegally. That is an extraordinary rebuke from the federal bench."

"Now the Administration is even threatening to interfere with our elections. President Trump has suggested that the federal government should 'nationalize' elections. Top Trump ally Steve Bannon recently said, 'We're gonna have ICE surround the polls… We'll never again allow an election to be stolen.' Secretary Noem went further [when she said], we need to 'make sure that we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country.'"

"History teaches us that immigrants are the first target when an authoritarian regime seeks to erode civil rights and consolidate power. But immigrants are never the last target. And we know that Donald Trump does not respect the constitutional rights of any American-regardless of party."

"Secretary Noem, this is the first time we've ever met. I've been on this Committee for more than two decades. I've worked with every one of your predecessors. I tried to meet with you before and after your confirmation, but you refused every request. I want to be clear, and you should know this: no official on this side of the roster or the other is above the law. You have no right to deploy immigration agents as a paramilitary force in American cities."

"You swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, and you have an obligation to answer questions posed by the Members of this Committee, so that meaningful accountability can begin for the terror we are witnessing in America every day."

Video of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin's opening statement is available herefor TV Stations.

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