In fiery meeting, Rep. Delia Ramirez issues demands, reminds DHS head Noem of plans to pursue her impeachment

Rep. Delia Ramirez met face to face with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday in a combative closed-door meeting in Washington and told her in no uncertain terms — twice — that she'll work to impeach her.

Ramirez, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, spent about 35 minutes with Noem, who also brought her son to the meeting and was seated behind the secretary. Noem in December told Ramirez at a committee hearing that she would meet with her after repeated requests — despite the Ramirez accusing the agency head of violating court orders and lying to the public.

It began and ended with the Illinois Democrat warning Noem that her days in the administration could be numbered.

“I said to her, ‘I want to be pretty clear with you as we get started. I'm going to tell you everything I have said to you on record, and it's important for you to hear this directly from me. One, I continue to call for your removal,’’ Ramirez told the Sun-Times. “‘I expect that you resign. That if you don't resign or get impeached, I also recognize that your days may be numbered,’ which I believe they are. However, she is still the secretary. She clearly holds that position, and as such that I expected her to execute her oath of office and abide by the law of the United States of America.”

DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ramirez came equipped with what she called "bare minimum actions." They included asking Noem to re-establish protected areas, including churches, schools and hospitals — in accordance with a 2021 memorandum by former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. She also asked Noem to establish and codify use of force standards, arguing the department has been empowered through a lack of oversight and too much latitude to violate rights under the pretense of security. Ramirez is leading an effort to statutorily mandate DHS’ use of force policy. According to Ramirez, Noem told her that the department has a use of force report procedure and said it is covered in training.

Another request was for Noem to revoke a warrantless home entry memo, a controversial policy that has allowed ICE agents to enter homes without a judicial warrant — and asked that DHS respect laws and regulations, including vehicle registration laws that prevent swapping or changing license plates. In the wake of reports of federal immigration officers driving cars without proper license plates or modified plates, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias in October created a tipline to collect and investigate license plate violations. The announcement came two weeks after the Sun-Times sent him proof of DHS officers driving on public streets without one or both Illinois license plates.

Ramirez also told Noem federal agents must abide by court orders, but Ramirez said Noem asserted that agents are indeed following court orders. When Ramirez pushed back, Noem asked for more details on specific court orders they’re violating. Ramirez referenced DHS agents using chemical weapons at least four times, despite court orders from U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis.

In a discussion about detention centers, Ramirez mentioned reports across the country of people who did not receive timely medical care while detained, and of some of her constituents who detailed food shortages at facilities. Noem denied to Ramirez that people are not receiving medical care, and she asked for a specific list of people who have complained.

Noem also told Ramirez that there are plans to “consolidate” some of the country’s 225 detention centers. She did not specifically reference Illinois.

Ramirez detailed incidents in Chicago in which people were tear-gassed going into a grocery store just one block from a school, children being rushed out of school playgrounds and chemical agents being sprayed near children. She also talked about drop-in visits by federal immigration agents at area hospitals.

“I said to her, ‘You continue to deny what your agents are doing on the ground, but I'm going to tell you what I have seen with my own eyes that your agents have done,’” Ramirez said. “She acted like she had no idea what I was talking about, as if she did not know that she had agents in the hospital for days as they were waiting for one of my constituents, who had been harmed as they were attempting to detain him.”

Ramirez also told Noem about Ald. Jessie Fuentes’ being handcuffed by agents at a Humboldt Park hospital as she came to check on that constituent in October. Fuentes asked agents if they had signed a judicial warrant and then was shoved by one agent, who was fully masked and not wearing any identification, according to a video posted to social media. After her third question about a judicial warrant, the alderperson was handcuffed. Fuentes was ultimately released — but has since filed a federal tort claim seeking $100,000 in damages.

Ramirez said Noem repeatedly told her to let her know "when these things are happening.”

“You and I both know she knows what is happening, and she has chosen to ignore them," Ramirez said. "So she's accountable."