Noem confronted by Democrats, including about allegedly removing veterans from U.S.

House Democrats pushed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for answers connected the Trump administration's migration operations during a proceeding Thursday connected worldwide threats, with Rep. Seth Magaziner confronting her with a seasoned connected Zoom who helium said had been issued a removal order.

Magaziner, a Democrat from Rhode Island, cited cases of veterans and subject families facing removal oregon prolonged detention. After Noem said nary veterans person been deported. Magaziner featured 1 specified veteran, Sae Joon Park, implicit Zoom. In June, the U.S. Army seasoned and greenish paper holder self-deported to South Korea aft Magaziner said helium was issued a removal bid related to cause possession charges and nonaccomplishment to look successful tribunal from implicit 15 years ago. 

"You accidental you're going aft the worst of the worst — convulsive criminals who are breaking our laws," Magaziner said successful an extended exchange, earlier adding that records and media reports amusement ICE has arrested tens of thousands of radical with nary transgression convictions, including U.S. citizens and longtime residents with heavy ties to the military. Magaziner argued that deporting veterans and their families "is not what the American radical deliberation they signed up for" erstwhile they perceive Noem's talking points astir hardened criminals.

Noem pushed back, insisting her section is enforcing the instrumentality arsenic written and that those unhappy with caller deportations should nonstop their choler astatine Congress, not the Department of Homeland Security. At 1 constituent during the hearing, she bristled that lawmakers were berating her for pursuing statutes they themselves wrote, saying if they don't similar the outcomes, they should "change the law."

The panel's ranking member, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, opened the proceeding with a scathing idiosyncratic rebuke of the DHS caput earlier urging her to resign from her post.

"Instead of deploying homeland information grants to support churches and synagogues, you handed your friends a $220 cardinal declaration truthful they could travel you astir the state with a camera," Thompson claimed successful an evident notation to a Pro Publica report. Thompson accused Noem, who presently resides successful a subject location typically reserved for the U.S. Coast Guard's apical admiral, of surviving "rent escaped successful a taxpayer-owned spot that is expected to beryllium reserved for subject leaders." 

"Every penny that you walk connected yourself represents the blood, sweat and tears of hardworking Americans who expect their taxation dollars to beryllium spent connected homeland security, not promoting you and your interests," Thompson said. 

The ranking subordinate aboriginal pressed Noem connected who gave asylum to the Afghan nationalist who has present been accused of shooting 2 National Guard members successful Washington, D.C. "Your D.H.S. approved the asylum application," Thompson told her. Noem repeatedly said that the vetting of the fishy occurred during the Biden administration.

During the questioning, Thompson called the shooting an "unfortunate accident," prompting Noem to occurrence backmost that it was "a violent attack." 

Following the Nov. 26 attack, the Department of Homeland Security halted processing of Afghan visas and froze decisions connected asylum applications. The medication has besides indefinitely suspended introduction for overseas nationals from 19 countries "of concern" that were included successful President Trump's question ban. 

Noem near the proceeding early, astatine astir 12:08 p.m., to be different meeting. 

But Thompson, the ranking member, claimed that the gathering that Noem near aboriginal for was canceled. 

"To adhd insult to injury, I'm told that erstwhile she left, she did not permission the building. She went to the anteroom," Thompson said, explaining that Noem had near aboriginal for a FEMA Review assembly meeting. "I recognize connected bully accusation that the FEMA assembly gathering was canceled. So determination was nary request for her to go. She was a liar with nary respect for legislature oversight," helium added. 

A DHS spokesperson told CBS News that Noem learned astatine 12:26 p.m. — 18 minutes aft leaving the legislature proceeding — that her different gathering was cancelled.

Thompson moved for her to beryllium subpoenaed, but the question was tabled by Republicans.