McGovern & Neal: Just say “No” to Noem. (stills via Bluesky/C-SPAN)

The occupation-like siege of Minneapolis, principally by Customs & Border Protection and Immigration & Customs Enforcement, had alone furthered backlash to the increasingly authoritarian nature of Donald Trump’s deportation push. However, after an ICE agent murdered a US citizen, there was an effort to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. It has only picked up speed since CBP killed another citizen.

In the days and weeks since agents of the federal government shot Renee Good in the face and Alex Pretti in the back, support for turfing Noem has spread across the Democratic caucus. Both of the 413’s Congressmen, Richard Neal of Springfield and James McGovern of Worcester, whose Central Massachusetts district reaches into the upper Pioneer Valley, have cosponsored an impeachment resolution against Noem.

The resolution’s lead sponsor, Illinois Rep Robin Kelly, announced Tuesday that Neal had signed on to her resolution. Just days before, both Neal and McGovern had voted against a government funding bill that put few meaningful brakes on ICE and CBP.

“Both my vote against the DHS funding bill and my decision to cosponsor the resolution to impeach Secretary Noem were based on the principles of public safety and accountability,” Neal said in a statement to WMP&I.

The Springfield Democrat observed that Noem had immediately begun to smear the slain, despite video disproving her mendacities. This only underscored the urgency in removing her.

“The notion that Secretary Noem would jump to conclusions and, prior to any investigation, label the two American citizens killed by ICE agents as domestic terrorists goes against everything our nation stands for,” Neal continued. “Ms. Good, Mr. Pretti, and the millions of Americans who are lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights…should not have to do so with the fear of being killed.”

McGovern joined the impeachment resolution shortly after it was introduced. A spokesperson for the Worcester Democrat said he supported impeaching Noem “immediately.”

“Steven Miller & Secretary Noem are complicit in the murder of a patriotic American citizen, who they disgustingly slandered as an ‘assassin’ and a ‘domestic terrorist,’” McGovern said on Bluesky also mentioning Trump domestic policy vizier Stephen Miller. “Resign, get fired, or face impeachment. They both need to go. Now.”

Bovino is not enough. Steven Miller & Secretary Noem are complicit in the murder of a patriotic American citizen, who they disgustingly slandered as an “assassin” and a “domestic terrorist.” Resign, get fired, or face impeachment. They both need to go. Now.

— Rep. Jim McGovern (@repmcgovern.bsky.social) 2026-01-27T20:18:37.166Z

In another post, McGovern observed that if Noem and company were willing to brazenly lie about things caught on camera, “what is to stop them from doing much worse when nobody is watching?”

Calls for Noem to resign have grown across Massachusetts and the nation. Senators Markey and Warren and Governor Maura Healey have called for the secretary to leave office.

Already a notoriously poor steward of her department’s finances, the murders of US citizens posing no threat have become an exclamation point on her disastrous tenure as Reichsminister secretary of the sprawling Department of Homeland Security. Combining a fascist style with a suggestive aesthetic, Noem has steered DHS into a dark caricature of its critics’ worst fears.

Created in the aftermath of 9/11, somewhat haphazardly, everything about DHS, from the concentration of state power to the almost fascistic name, has long worried civil libertarians. However, nobody has taken the department as far as Noem has. Most expected Trump’s DHS to push hard to expel noncitizens, but few expected expulsions to foreign torture chambers. Gunning down Americans in the streets in service to that goal has brought it to a whole new level.

Is Pretti’s killing a tipping point? (via Wikipedia)

ICE agent Jonathan Ross killed Good as she attempted to drive around him on a residential street on January 7. Trump, Noem and the rest of the administration attempted to justify the killing as a matter of self-defense. Analysis of videos contradicted this, but the administration did not second guess its approach.

This past Saturday, Pretti was shot about 10 times while lying prone after agents shoved him to the ground. The videos came out almost as quickly as the administration’s lies about the Veterans Affairs department intensive care nurse. Noem was among those leading the charge, calling Pretti a “domestic terrorist.” Citing the legal firearm agents took off of him, Noem and others claimed he was about to commit a massacre. The videos show he never brandished his weapon and he was subdued when agents opened fire.

That was too much even for many apolitical Americans. The White House shifted its tone, if not yet its deployment in the Twin Cities.

As evidence of this, even DHS’s chief spokesperson and propagandist, Tricia McLaughlin, resorted more to rhetoric, if still venomous, than mendacity, and called Democrats’ impeachment push “showmanship.”

“We hope these members get serious about doing their job to protect American people, which is what this Department is doing under Secretary Noem,” she said according to The Washington Post.

House Democratic leadership said this week they would back Noem’s impeachment if she doesn’t resign. This all but assures that more cosponsors will join the resolution. Congressional records show the rest of Massachusetts’s delegation, save Rep Katherine Clark, have cosponsored the impeachment resolution. However, Clark is part of House leadership, has herself said she will support impeachment if Noem stays in place

Even if all Democrats support impeachment, it would not be enough to send the resolution over to the Senate. Once there, finding 67 votes to remove Noem is even more unlikely. However, events remain fluid. Despite Trump’s statements of support, were an impeachment resolution to pass the House, Noem may face defenestration.

From a boot on America’s neck to getting the boot herself from Congress? (created via Wikipedia images)

Only seven House Democrats had voted for DHS’s funding bill last week. Most political observers assumed enough Democratic senators would support it in the Upper Chamber to overcome a filibuster. Pretti’s murder changed that. The DHS funding bill and others attached to it are now in doubt unless Republicans agree to more stringent controls on ICE, CBP and immigration enforcement generally. Neal told The Republican he hopes the Senate passes the other spending bills without the DHS funding to allow for a longer conversation about changes to the department and its agencies.

Trump’s tax bill also automatically funds ICE and CBP, regardless of what happens with the funding bill. However, a lapse in general funding for DHS could hobble the department.

It is unclear whether Democratic votes in the House will be necessary. However, both McGovern and Neal are unlikely to support any funding bill without significant changes.

The Justice Department has all but said it will not investigate the murders. FBI and CBP’s own internal office are reviewing the incidents. Yet, at this point, those efforts seem aimed at stymieing state prosecutions.

Neal rattled off some changes but did not indicate that his list was exhaustive or sufficient to win his support. Nevertheless, he said the status quo would not do. His suggestions ranged from ending the use of mask wearing to accountability that has become more common at the state and local level.

“The American people should expect the same for federal agents. This is no longer about immigration. It’s about the rule of law and the basic civil liberties that define our democracy,” he said.

McGovern drew an even harder line. The day before Pretti’s murder, he invoked Good’s murder and ICE using a five-year old as bait.

“I voted against funding, but that’s not enough. Abolish and dismantle ICE. If you support this shit, you are sick in the head,” he posted.

ICE is violently assaulting peaceful protestors & entering homes without warrants. They shot an innocent mom in the head & used a 5-year-old as bait.I voted against funding, but that’s not enough. Abolish and dismantle ICE. If you support this shit, you are sick in the head.

— Rep. Jim McGovern (@repmcgovern.bsky.social) 2026-01-23T23:49:28.566Z

On Tuesday, he repeated his sentiments and emphasized the rising stakes.

“America wants Democrats to show some backbone & defend people’s constitutional rights—Senate Democrats must hold the line & refuse to fund the murder of American citizens,” McGovern posted Tuesday, again calling for the defunding of ICE. “There are much smarter ways to enforce our laws.”