“I Call On You To Resign”: Rep. Thompson Slams Kristi Noem Over Illegal Deportations and Congressional Obstruction

In a fiery and deeply aggressive hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, Chairman Bennie Thompson delivered a powerful rebuke to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary (referred to as Kristi Noem/Gnome in the transcript), leveling accusations of illegal detention of American citizens, excessive force, and systemic obstruction of congressional oversight. The confrontation culminated with Thompson demanding the Secretary’s immediate resignation.

Accusations of Lawlessness and Human Rights Violations

Thompson began his statement by directly addressing the Secretary, accusing DHS of breaking the law while attempting to enforce it, detailing a litany of alleged abuses:

“In the process of carrying out this extreme agenda at your direction, DHS has terrorized, beaten, and detained hundreds, if not thousands of American citizens. At your direction, DHS has illegally detained and deported American citizens, including US citizen children, with cancer.”

The Chairman highlighted the use of force against protestors and citizens, including military veterans and clergy, alleging DHS agents had “illegally gassed, pepper sprayed, and put their knees on the necks of Americans.” He also recounted a specific, tragic incident involving a pregnant U.S. citizen who was reportedly thrown to the ground, kicked, and left in handcuffs, later resulting in the loss of her baby, because officers did not believe she was an American.

Thompson’s message was unambiguous: “You cannot enforce the law by breaking the law, Secretary Gnome. That’s not how justice works.”

The Oversight Obstruction

A significant portion of Thompson’s attack focused on the lack of cooperation with Congressional oversight. He highlighted a dramatic disparity in appearances and responsiveness compared to previous administrations:

Unanswered Letters: Thompson claimed the committee was owed responses to over a dozen oversight letters.
Historical Precedent: He stated that never in the committee’s history has a Homeland Security Secretary hidden from oversight like the current administration.
Appearance Gap: He noted that in the first year of the subsequent administration, DHS officials made 28 appearances, while under President Trump, DHS officials appeared at only 3 hearings, with the Secretary herself appearing only twice.

Thompson suggested that this pattern indicated a systematic dismantling of the department and a violation of the law, concluding with the powerful, unscripted call:

“I call on you to resign. Do a real service to the country and just resign. That is if President Trump doesn’t fire you first.”

The Antifa Contradiction

The hearing quickly devolved into a parallel legal and intelligence clash when Thompson questioned another witness, a “Mr. Glasten” or “Gentleman from CT NCTC,” about the most serious domestic threats.

When asked to name two organizations that pose the biggest domestic threat, the witness immediately cited an executive order from the President naming Antifa as the primary concern.

Thompson pressed the witness to provide basic, concrete evidence to support this claim:

“Where is Antifa headquartered? … If it’s a terrorist organization and you’ve identified it as number one… how many members do they have in the United States as of right now?”

The witness struggled, offering vague responses such as “that’s very fluid” and comparing the organized structure of Antifa to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Thompson rejected this comparison and ultimately accused the witness of saying something he couldn’t prove.

The tense hearing highlighted a deep breakdown in trust between the legislative and executive branches, with the Chairman alleging not only illegal actions by DHS but also a willful refusal to provide basic accountability to the American public and their representatives.