WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was confronted by protesters Thursday who trailed her down the halls as she left the hearing early for another engagement, chanting, ”Shame on you!”
Noem, who heads the agency central to President Donald Trump’s approach to immigration, received backup from Republicans on the panel but faced fierce questioning from Democrats — including many who called for her resignation over the mass deportation agenda.
Noem was accused of misleading committee members when she said she was departing the hearing early to attend another meeting that was actually canceled.
It’s an assertion denied by Noem’s office, which said she only found out her meeting was canceled after she left the witness table.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., moved to subpoena Noem to reappear before the panel, saying she shirked her duties and may have even lied about needing to attend a meeting of the FEMA Council convened to determine the future of the disaster agency.
“The Secretary found out at 12:26pm that the meeting was cancelled,” a DHS spokesperson said.
Republicans voted down Thompson’s motion to again call her before the committee.
Noem said earlier in the hearing that she would need to leave to attend the FEMA Council meeting.
Several Democrats repeatedly told Noem flatly that she was “lying” to them and to the public. They presented cases of U.S. citizens being detained in immigration operations and families of American military veterans being torn apart by deportations of loved ones who have not committed serious crimes or other violations.
“You lie with impunity,” said Rep. Delia Rodriguez, D-Ill., who said Noem should resign or be impeached.
Republicans largely stood by Noem, thanked her for the work the department is doing to keep the country safe and urged her to carry on.
“Deport them all,” said Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn.
Since Noem’s last congressional appearance in May, immigration enforcement operations, especially in Los Angeles and Chicago, have become increasingly contentious, with federal agents and activists frequently clashing over her department’s tactics.
NewsNation affiliate The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.