Congressman Cohen Questions DHS Secretary Noem about her Claim to be Deporting “the Worst of the Worst”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at an oversight hearing. Congressman Cohen asked Secretary Noem about her lack of response to repeated letters he has written to her over the past year and about claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are deporting the “worst of the worst.”

In his exchange with the Secretary, Congressman Cohen said in part:

“This gives me the opportunity to show you the eight letters I’ve sent you in the last year…and gives me the opportunity to ask you the questions and try to get answers. One of the things you’re most famous for is quote ‘we’re going after the worst of the worst’ – the murderers, pedophiles, the rapists, et cetera. In my letters, I said I agree with you: People who are in this country illegally or not citizens and commit those crimes should be deported. The facts show that most of the people you stopped and tried to deport have not committed those crimes. In fact, they’ve committed no crimes at all…

“Why do you continue to talk about the ‘worst of the worst’ when all the statistics show you’re not stopping the worst of the worst?...

“Go after the worst of the worst and, if you did, people wouldn’t find your department the worst department in the United States of America.”

Congressman Cohen also asked Secretary Noem about recent allegations that ICE agent training includes “secretive orders” that they violate the law. He also asked whether any of the January 6 insurrectionists have been hired by her department.

See the entire exchange here.

Congressman Cohen has previously called for Secretary Noem to resign, be fired, or face impeachment proceedings. 

# # #