Cabinet of Horrors: Kristi Noem -- DHS Secretary¶
Published by: Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Last Updated: 2026-02-11
Confidence: HIGH (60+ independent sources, court records, video evidence, Congressional investigations, government internal review)
Executive Summary¶
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is the 8th Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 25, 2025, by a vote of 59-34. A former four-term congresswoman and two-term governor of South Dakota -- the first woman to hold that office -- Noem oversees the federal agencies responsible for immigration enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA, the Secret Service, and the Transportation Security Administration. She was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on January 26, 2025.
In her first year as DHS Secretary, Noem has presided over the deadliest period for immigration detainees in two decades. At least 53 people have died in ICE or CBP custody under her watch. The detained population reached a record 68,440 in December 2025, a 75% increase over 2024. She has personally labeled two people shot dead by federal agents as "domestic terrorists" before any investigation was completed -- statements later contradicted by video evidence, Congressional findings, and her own government's internal review. She has twice attempted to ban unannounced Congressional visits to detention facilities, and was blocked both times by the same federal judge. She toured El Salvador's notorious CECOT megaprison and posted a public threat that immigrants could "end up" there. She opened a detention facility on a former slave plantation and said "absolutely" it was chosen for its terrifying reputation. She oversaw the largest immigration enforcement operation in American history -- Operation Metro Surge -- which deployed over 2,000 armed agents to Minneapolis and resulted in the killings of two U.S. citizens, the near-fatal beating of another, mass protests, and a federal judge finding 96 court order violations in a single month.
Noem faces articles of impeachment co-sponsored by 182 members of Congress (85% of the Democratic caucus), supported by 52% of American voters. She has been named as a defendant in multiple federal lawsuits. She has drawn bipartisan criticism from Republican senators including Tillis and Murkowski, who publicly called for her removal. Despite all of this, as of February 2026, she has not testified before Congress about the killings or deaths, retracted any false statement, apologized to any victim's family, or faced any personal consequences. President Trump says she is doing "a very good job."
Position and Authority¶
What She Controls¶
As DHS Secretary, Noem sits atop the third-largest cabinet department in the federal government, with approximately 260,000 employees and a budget of over $60 billion. Under her authority:
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): ~22,000 agents conducting interior enforcement, detention, and deportation operations. Acting Director: Todd Lyons. ICE currently detains approximately 68,000-73,000 people daily in nearly 200 facilities nationwide.
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP): ~65,000 employees including Border Patrol. CBP agents were involved in the killing of Alex Pretti and the shooting of Marimar Martinez.
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI): Federal criminal investigators who led raids during Operation Metro Surge.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Noem's $100K approval mandate reportedly held up $17 billion in federal disaster aid.
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA): Airport and transportation security.
- U.S. Coast Guard: Maritime law enforcement and border security.
- U.S. Secret Service: Presidential and dignitary protection.
Chain of Command¶
Noem reports to President Trump. She works alongside "Border Czar" Tom Homan, who holds a White House-appointed role directing immigration enforcement. The relationship has been described as containing "an unspoken rivalry," particularly after Trump gave Homan command authority over the Minneapolis situation following the two killings. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and CBP Commander Gregory Bovino (later demoted) reported to Noem during the key events documented here.
Procurement Authority¶
Noem required her personal approval of all DHS contracts and awards over $100,000 with a five-day review period. She admitted in May 2025 to spending far beyond congressionally appropriated levels, gambling that DHS could secure an extra $170 billion through the partisan reconciliation bill. Under her oversight, the $55 billion TITUS contract -- routed through the Navy to bypass normal procurement -- funds mass detention infrastructure construction nationwide.
Background¶
Early Life and Family¶
Born November 30, 1971, in Watertown, South Dakota. One of four children of Corinne and Ron Arnold. Grew up on a farm in Hamlin County. In 1990, crowned Snow Queen at the South Dakota Snow Queen Festival. Her father was killed in a farming accident, and she dropped out of college to run the family farm with her husband Bryon Noem (married 1992). She eventually completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at South Dakota State University in 2011 -- while serving in Congress.
Political Career¶
| Period | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-2011 | South Dakota House of Representatives | Assistant Majority Leader |
| 2011-2019 | U.S. House of Representatives | South Dakota at-large; four terms. First South Dakotan on House Ways & Means. |
| 2019-2025 | Governor of South Dakota | First female governor. Re-elected 2022 with record votes (62-35%). |
| 2025-present | Secretary of Homeland Security | 8th Secretary. Confirmed January 25, 2025. |
Congressional Record on Immigration¶
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) gave Noem a near-perfect score on immigration votes during her Congressional tenure. She:
- Supported Trump's Muslim travel ban
- Voted to ban DACA recipients from military service
- Voted against a path to legalization for 1.8 million undocumented people
- Co-sponsored anti-immigration legislation consistently
Governor: Immigration Hardliner¶
As governor, Noem built a national profile as one of the most aggressive anti-immigration governors in the country:
- National Guard to the border: Deployed South Dakota National Guard troops to the southern border five times. Led South Dakota to become the first state legislature to formally support border defense.
- Refused refugee resettlement: Did not permit South Dakota to receive refugees under the Biden administration.
- Razor wire to Texas: Offered to personally deliver razor wire to Governor Abbott for his border fence.
- "Invasion" rhetoric: Described the border as an "invasion" and accused Mexican drug cartels of "waging war."
- COVID-19 response: Refused to close businesses or impose mask mandates, emphasizing "personal responsibility" over public health mandates. Hosted a massive July 4th event at Mount Rushmore in 2020.
All Nine Tribes Banned Her¶
In 2024, all nine Native American tribes in South Dakota voted to ban Noem from their reservation lands -- approximately 20% of the state's territory. The bans followed Noem's claims that Mexican drug cartels were active on reservations and that some "tribal leaders are personally benefiting from the cartels." Standing Rock Sioux Chairwoman Janet Alkire called her comments "a wild and irresponsible attempt to connect tribal leaders and parents with Mexican drug cartels" and "a sad reflection of her fear-based politics." Tribal leaders said the conflict went deeper than the cartel rhetoric, reflecting years of strained relations under her administration.
Sources: NPR, CNN, CBS News, South Dakota Searchlight, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe press release. Confidence: CONFIRMED.
The Cricket Incident (Character Context)¶
In her 2024 book No Going Back, Noem wrote about personally shooting and killing her 14-month-old hunting dog, Cricket, in a gravel pit because the dog was "untrainable" and she "hated that dog." She also killed a family goat she described as "nasty and mean" -- dragging it to the gravel pit, tying it to a post, shooting it once, retrieving another shell, and shooting it again. Construction workers silently watched both killings. When her daughter came home from school and asked, "Hey, where's Cricket?" Noem did not disclose her answer. She framed both killings as examples of her willingness to make "difficult" leadership decisions. The story drew bipartisan outrage. Legal experts questioned whether the killings violated South Dakota's animal cruelty statutes.
Significance for this dossier: The Cricket incident reveals a pattern of responding to perceived disobedience or inconvenience with lethal force and then reframing the violence as righteous leadership. This pattern repeats in her DHS role -- when federal agents kill civilians, Noem's instinct is not investigation or accountability but immediate justification and victim-blaming.
Sources: The Guardian (original excerpt), ABC News, CBS News, Rolling Stone, PolitiFact, South Dakota Searchlight. Confidence: CONFIRMED.
Key Decisions and Directives¶
1. Rescinding Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans (January 2025)¶
One of her first acts: rescinded the 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans, exposing them to deportation.
2. Personally Leading ICE Raids (January 2025 - January 2026)¶
Noem has personally participated in enforcement operations at least twice:
- January 28, 2025: Led an ICE raid in New York City in early morning hours.
- January 6, 2026: Joined ICE agents during an enforcement operation in St. Paul, Minnesota, participating in the arrest of an Ecuadorian national on Payne Avenue. Posted video of herself on the raid to social media. This was the day before Renee Good was killed.
3. Congressional Oversight Ban (May 2025 - February 2026)¶
Issued two successive memos requiring seven calendar days' advance notice for Congressional visits to detention facilities -- in direct violation of federal law (Section 527 of the DHS Appropriations Act), which explicitly states that no funds may be used to prevent members of Congress from entering facilities and that no advance notice may be required.
- First memo: May 13, 2025. Blocked in December 2025 by Judge Jia Cobb.
- Second memo: January 8, 2026 -- issued secretly the day after Renee Good was killed. Blocked again by Judge Cobb in February 2026.
Multiple members of Congress were denied facility entry under these policies, including Reps. Omar, Craig, and Morrison attempting to visit Minneapolis ICE facilities after Good's killing.
Sources: NPR, Axios, Democracy Docket, American Oversight, Government Executive, court records. Confidence: CONFIRMED.
4. CECOT Visit and Public Threat (March 26, 2025)¶
Toured El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a megaprison holding up to 40,000 inmates with no visitor rights, no outdoor recreation, no educational programs, and where officials have said prisoners will never leave. DHS photographer Tia Dufour released 36 official photographs. Noem met with President Nayib Bukele.
Posted on social media: "I toured the CECOT, El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center. President Trump and I have a clear message to criminal illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW. If you do not leave, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you could end up in this El Salvadorian prison."
Context: 238 Venezuelans had already been deported to CECOT by the Trump administration in defiance of a court order. Some had no criminal records. Families denied any gang ties. The administration relied on tattoos for gang identification -- in one documented case, a man with an autism awareness ribbon tattoo was detained as a suspected gang member.
Sources: CNN, Newsweek, Axios, DHS.gov, Reason, ABC News, Daily Beast. Confidence: CONFIRMED.
5. Angola Prison — "Louisiana Lockup" (September 3, 2025)¶
Detention on a Former Slave Plantation
When asked if Angola was chosen because of its terrifying reputation, Noem said: "Absolutely." The prison is named after the slave plantation on its grounds, which held 700 enslaved people in the 1850s. After the Civil War, Black inmates were subleased to landowners to replace slaves.
Announced the opening of an ICE detention facility at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola), the nation's largest maximum-security prison, built on the grounds of a former slave plantation.
When asked if the prison was specifically chosen because of its notorious reputation, Noem said: "Absolutely." She stated the facility was chosen to encourage people in the U.S. illegally to "self-deport."
Key facts about Angola:
- Named after the slave plantation on its grounds, which held 700 enslaved people in the 1850s
- After the Civil War, a former Confederate officer was awarded a lease giving him control over the prison and its convicts; Black inmates were subleased to landowners to replace slaves
- Described in the 1960s-70s as "the bloodiest prison in America"
- The facility uses Camp J, formerly known as "the Dungeon" (solitary confinement cells closed since 2018)
- Capacity: 416 beds. Federal government pays $949,000/month. Operated by LaSalle Corrections
- Noem toured the facility with AG Pam Bondi and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry
The ACLU of Louisiana called it "state-sanctioned cruelty." Over 70% of people in immigration detention in Louisiana have never been convicted of a crime.
Significance: Deliberately choosing a prison built on a former slave plantation, publicly confirming it was chosen for its terrifying reputation, and naming it "Louisiana Lockup" demonstrates that cruelty is the policy. The facility's purpose is not detention logistics -- it is psychological warfare through association with chattel slavery.
Sources: PBS, WWNO, Washington Times, Axios, DHS.gov, Louisiana Illuminator, Common Dreams, Amnesty International. Confidence: CONFIRMED.
6. Halting Medical Care Payments (October 2025)¶
Physicians for Human Rights
"95% of ICE detention deaths between 2017-2021 were preventable with appropriate medical care." Then ICE halted medical payments.
In October 2025, ICE halted payments to third-party contractors providing medical care in detention facilities. This occurred while the detained population was surging toward record highs (68,440 by December). The American Immigration Council noted: "ICE stopped paying its third-party medical providers for detainee care in October of last year, raising further concerns about the agency's ability to provide basic care." Physicians for Human Rights had previously found that 95% of detention deaths between 2017-2021 were preventable with appropriate medical care.
7. TITUS Contract — Mass Detention Infrastructure ($55 Billion)¶
$55 Billion Detention Machine
The TITUS contract enables deployment of 10,000-person detention facilities anywhere in the U.S. using a Navy contract mechanism that bypasses normal procurement oversight. With three more years pre-funded, this infrastructure will outlast any single administration. See detention facilities database →
Under Noem's leadership, DHS is constructing a nationwide network of mass detention through the TITUS contract (Territorial Integrity of the United States), routed through a Navy contract mechanism to bypass normal procurement oversight.
- Original ceiling: $10 billion (October 2025)
- Expanded to: $55 billion (early 2026), with potential $65 billion if options exercised through 2034
- Enables: Deployment of 10,000-person detention facilities anywhere in the U.S. using "task order" mechanism
- Scope: Base operations, life support, construction, lodging, catering, medical, force protection, communications, logistics, transportation
- Facilities include: Tents, medical waste incinerators, defensive barriers, CONEX box walls
Additional facility expansion under Noem:
- Surprise, Arizona -- $70M warehouse purchase, 1,500-bed facility
- Byhalia, Mississippi -- 8,500+ bed capacity
- $29.9M no-bid contract to KPB Services for "concept design for processing centers and mega centers"
- ICE now operates nearly 200 jails nationwide after opening or reopening 130+ facilities in 2025
Critics warn: "With three more years pre-funded, Secretary Noem -- or any potential successor -- has the legal and financial runway to keep the business of creating ICE concentration camps overnight in American communities running long after any news cycle fades."
Sources: CNN, GovConWire, Common Dreams, The Nation, Congressional letters, SAM.gov procurement records. Confidence: HIGH.
8. Body Camera Announcement (February 2, 2026)¶
Twenty-six days after Renee Good's killing and nine days after Alex Pretti's, Noem announced "effective immediately" that body cameras would be deployed to "every officer in the field in Minneapolis" with plans to expand nationwide. At the time, ICE had only ~4,400 cameras for ~22,000 agents. Trump had previously scaled back a Biden-era body camera program. Neither Good's nor Pretti's killer wore body cameras. HSI had video from up to 30 body cameras at the Pretti scene but refused to release the footage.
Assessment: A reactive measure forced by political pressure. It did not address fundamental problems: agent identities remain concealed, body camera footage from the Pretti killing remains unreleased, and no agents have been disciplined.
Connection to Deaths¶
53+ Deaths Under Her Watch
At least 53 people have died in ICE or CBP custody since Noem became DHS Secretary — the deadliest period in two decades. Physicians for Human Rights found 95% of detention deaths were preventable. See full death statistics →
The Numbers¶
| Period | Deaths | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (full year) | 32 in ICE custody | Highest since 2004; nearly triple 2024's 11 deaths |
| December 2025 | 7 deaths | Deadliest single month on record |
| 2026 (first 6 weeks) | 6-8 additional deaths | Including 2 at Fort Bliss |
| CBP deaths (2025-2026) | 17 reported to Congress | |
| Total under Noem | 53+ deaths in ICE/CBP custody | Per House Homeland Security Committee Democrats |
The Causal Chain¶
Noem's connection to these deaths operates through four mechanisms:
1. Policy decisions that created deadly conditions:
- Expanded the detained population by 75% in 2025 (from ~40,000 to ~68,000+)
- Halted medical contractor payments in October 2025 while population surged
- Opened/reopened 130+ detention facilities, many inadequately staffed
- Oversaw ICE inspection rates that plummeted as detentions soared (per POGO)
- The American Immigration Council concluded: "Trump administration deadlier for ICE detainees than COVID-19 pandemic." See 2025 death data →
2. Obstruction of oversight that could have prevented deaths:
- Twice banned unannounced Congressional visits to detention facilities
- When members of Congress demanded documents on medical staffing and conditions, Noem did not comply
- DHS spokesperson told Axios there was "no spike in deaths," using per-capita rate to obscure tripling of absolute numbers
- DHS attempted to deport witnesses to the homicide of Geraldo Lunas Campos at Fort Bliss
3. Post-killing cover-up through false "domestic terrorist" labeling:
- Labeled Renee Good a "domestic terrorist" within hours of her death, before she was even publicly identified
- Labeled Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" immediately after his killing
- These labels functioned to pre-emptively justify the killings and foreclose public sympathy
- Both labels were contradicted by video evidence, Congressional investigations, and in Pretti's case, the government's own internal review
4. Institutional culture that rewards violence:
- No agent under her command has been charged for any killing or beating
- Officers who employ aggressive tactics are promoted, not disciplined (ProPublica)
- Body camera footage is systematically withheld
- Agent identities are concealed
- A federal judge wrote that DHS culture under her leadership "celebrates violent responses over fair and diplomatic ones"
Specific Death: Geraldo Lunas Campos¶
Ruled Homicide
The El Paso County medical examiner ruled cause of death: asphyxiation due to compression of the neck and torso — homicide. ICE told Congress he simply died after "staff observed him in distress."
55-year-old Cuban migrant held at Fort Bliss tent facility. The Washington Post reported witness testimony that camp guards had choked him to death. DHS attempted to deport two detainees who witnessed the killing.
Specific Death Pattern: Fort Bliss / Camp East Montana¶
3 Deaths in 44 Days
Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss opened November 2025. By January 2026, three people were dead. After the first death was ruled a homicide, ICE routed the next body to a military hospital that doesn't release autopsy reports publicly.
The facility — a military tent camp repurposed for immigration detention — exemplifies the TITUS-era approach: rapid construction, minimal medical infrastructure, maximum capacity, minimal oversight. Operated by Acquisition Logistics LLC ($1.2B contract, no prior corrections experience). 60+ federal standards violations documented in first 50 days.
Sources: Axios, NPR, The Appeal, American Immigration Council, WOLA, House Homeland Security Committee, Washington Post, POGO. Confidence: HIGH.
Minneapolis Operations¶
Operation Metro Surge: Overview¶
On December 4, 2025, DHS announced Operation Metro Surge. On January 6, 2026, the operation was expanded to what DHS called "the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out," deploying over 2,000 armed and masked federal agents to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. The operation was publicly framed as a response to Minnesota daycare fraud scandals, but of approximately 3,000 people arrested, only 23 were from Somalia, and none had ties to the fraud investigations.
Noem's Personal Participation¶
On January 6, 2026, Noem personally joined ICE agents during an enforcement operation on Payne Avenue in St. Paul's East Side. She participated in the arrest of an Ecuadorian national and posted video of herself on the raid to social media. DHS issued a press release titled: "DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Hits the Streets with ICE Agents."
This was one day before Renee Good was killed.
Timeline of Escalation¶
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2025 | Operation Metro Surge announced |
| Jan 6, 2026 | Noem personally joins enforcement operation in St. Paul; operation expanded to 2,000+ agents |
| Jan 7, 2026 | ICE Officer Jonathan Ross kills Renee Good |
| Jan 8, 2026 | ICE agents beat Alberto Castaneda Mondragon (8 skull fractures); Noem issues secret memo reinstating Congressional visit ban |
| Jan 11, 2026 | Noem on CNN: "Everything I've said has been proven to be factual." Announces more agents will be surged to Minneapolis |
| Jan 19, 2026 | DHS announces 3,000 arrests; multiple individuals on list not actually arrested during operation |
| Jan 24, 2026 | CBP agents kill Alex Pretti (~10 shots while pinned) |
| Jan 31, 2026 | Portland: Federal agents tear-gas ~3,000 protesters |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Noem announces body cameras for Minneapolis agents |
| Feb 5, 2026 | 11+ HSI officers arrest Kyle Wagner at 6 AM; Noem labels him "domestic terrorist" |
Impact on Minneapolis¶
- Schools locked down or transitioned to remote learning
- Businesses reported 50-80% revenue decreases
- Families avoided hospitals, schools, and grocery stores
- Two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents: Renee Good and Alex Pretti
- One man (Alberto Castaneda Mondragon) sustained 8 skull fractures from ICE beating
- 96 court order violations by ICE in January alone (per Judge Schiltz)
- Mass protests across the Twin Cities and nationally
- 12+ federal prosecutors resigned
- FBI supervisor resigned
- ACLU class-action lawsuit (Tincher et al. v. Noem et al.)
- Minnesota AG Ellison filed lawsuit (Minnesota v. DHS)
Noem's False Claim About Arrests¶
On January 19, Noem claimed ICE had "arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens" in Minneapolis, including 3,000 in the past six weeks. A review of the list ICE provided showed that several individuals on it had been transferred from state custody before December 2025 -- including one transferred in 2003 -- and had not been arrested during Operation Metro Surge.
The "Worst of the Worst" Deception¶
DHS repeatedly branded the operation as targeting "the worst of the worst." The data tells a different story:
- Only 5% of Minneapolis arrestees had records of violent crimes
- Only 23 of ~3,000 arrested were from Somalia (the stated target community)
- TRAC immigration data: ~74.2% of people in ICE detention have no criminal conviction
- Cato Institute: 65% had no criminal conviction; 93% had no violent criminal conviction
- Over 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by immigration agents (ProPublica)
Sources: Wikipedia, Britannica, DHS.gov, Sahan Journal, Star Tribune, AG Ellison lawsuit, ACLU of Minnesota, multiple outlets. Confidence: CONFIRMED.
Notable Statements¶
On Renee Good (January 7-11, 2026)¶
"An act of domestic terrorism."
-- Press conference, evening of January 7, 2026"She violently, willfully, and viciously weaponized her vehicle."
-- Press conference, January 7, 2026"She attempted to run a law enforcement officer over."
-- Press conference, January 7, 2026 (video showed car turning away from agent)"Everything that I've said has been proven to be factual and the truth."
-- CNN interview with Jake Tapper, January 11, 2026 (without providing evidence)
Contradicted by: House Oversight Committee ("clearly false"), multiple video analyses (ABC, NBC, NYT, WaPo), Minneapolis Police Chief ("predictable and entirely preventable"), agent's own cell phone video showing peaceful encounter.
On Alex Pretti (January 24-30, 2026)¶
"He committed an act of domestic terrorism."
-- Press conference, January 24, 2026"Had a weapon on him, and multiple -- dozens -- of rounds of ammunition; wishing to inflict harm on these officers, coming, brandishing like that."
-- Press conference, January 24-25, 2026"Violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and to perpetuate violence. That is the definition of domestic terrorism."
-- Press conference, January 24-25, 2026"The best information we had at the time."
-- Fox News (Hannity), late January 2026 (backtracking)"That situation was very chaotic and that we were being relayed information from on the ground."
-- Fox News (Hannity), late January 2026
Contradicted by: Video evidence (Bellingcat, CNN, ABC, CBS, NYT), government's own internal review sent to Congress, Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara ("I don't have any evidence that suggests that the weapon was brandished").
Republican criticism: Sen. Thom Tillis: "Those two people told the president, before they even had any incident report whatsoever, that the person who died was a terrorist... that is amateur hour at its worst."
On CECOT (March 26, 2025)¶
"President Trump and I have a clear message to criminal illegal aliens: LEAVE NOW. If you do not leave, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you could end up in this El Salvadorian prison."
-- Posted on X after touring CECOT"I also want everybody to know, if you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you could face."
-- Video recorded inside CECOT, standing before cells holding dozens of shirtless inmates
On Angola Prison (September 3, 2025)¶
"Absolutely."
-- When asked if Angola was chosen for detainees because of its terrifying reputation"This facility will hold the most dangerous of criminals."
-- At Angola announcement (ACLU: 70%+ of Louisiana immigration detainees have no criminal conviction)
On Agent Masks¶
"I would say they wear masks at times to protect their identities from dangerous situations."
-- Response to questions about masked agents (CATO: 2025 was second-safest year ever for agents)
On DHS Mission (2025-2026)¶
"Under President Trump's leadership, we are making America safe again and putting the American people first. In record-time we have secured the border, taken the fight to cartels, and arrested thousands upon thousands of criminal illegal aliens."
-- Year-end 2025 DHS statement"It's incredible. President Trump believed that we still have a country, and he believed that it was a country worth fighting for."
-- Arizona border visit, February 4, 2026"You will not stop or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
-- DHS statement on assaults against officers, January 2026"2025 set the bar high, but I know 2026 will be even better."
-- Message to DHS employees, January 21, 2026
On Kyle Wagner (February 5, 2026)¶
"Today, HSI and the U.S. Department of Justice arrested Kyle Wagner, a self-identified Antifa domestic terrorist in Minneapolis who conspired to threaten, dox, and kill our brave ICE officers."
-- Statement on Wagner arrest (Wagner was charged with cyberstalking and threatening communications, not terrorism)
The "Domestic Terrorist" Pattern¶
Pattern: Label the Dead Before Anyone Investigates
Noem has applied the label "domestic terrorist" to at least three people — two of them killed by federal agents, one arrested — all before any investigation was completed. In both killing cases, the label was later contradicted by evidence.
| Person | Date | Status | Label Applied | Investigation Complete? | Evidence Supported Label? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renee Good | Jan 7-8, 2026 | Dead (shot by ICE) | "domestic terrorist" | No | No -- "clearly false" (House Oversight) |
| Alex Pretti | Jan 24-25, 2026 | Dead (shot by CBP) | "domestic terrorist" | No | No -- government's own review contradicted |
| Kyle Wagner | Feb 5, 2026 | Arrested | "domestic terrorist" | No | Not charged with terrorism |
Function of the label: As the Brennan Center for Justice documented, applying the "domestic terrorist" label to people shot by federal agents serves two purposes: (1) it pre-emptively justifies the killing by framing the victim as an existential threat, and (2) it forecloses public sympathy by associating the victim with the most feared category in American law enforcement. When Noem labels a dead person a "domestic terrorist" before any investigation, she is not describing reality -- she is manufacturing it.
The broader pattern: This is not unique to Noem. During DHS's Chicago immigration crackdown "Operation Midway Blitz," CBP Agent Charles Exum shot U.S. citizen Marimar Martinez five times. DHS called Martinez a "domestic terrorist." A federal judge later dismissed the federal charges. See the federal agent conduct pattern analysis →
Sources: PolitiFact, PBS, Brennan Center, CNN, NBC, NPR, The Hill, ABC, Fox News, Sahan Journal, House Oversight Committee. Confidence: HIGH.
Lies and Contradictions¶
| Claim by Noem | Evidence Contradicting It | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Good "weaponized her vehicle" | Video: car turning away from agent. Last words: "I'm not mad at you" | House Oversight, ABC, NBC, NYT, WaPo |
| Good's death was "self-defense" | MPD Chief: "predictable and entirely preventable" | Minneapolis Police, PBS |
| "Everything I've said has been proven factual" | House Oversight: her claims were "clearly false" | House Oversight report |
| Pretti was "brandishing" a weapon | Video: cellphone in hand; gun in waistband; agent removed gun | Bellingcat, CNN, ABC, CBS, NYT |
| Pretti committed "domestic terrorism" | Gov't own internal review: no mention of Pretti attacking officers | NPR, OPB, Congressional sources |
| Agents wear masks "to protect identities" | CATO: 2025 was second-safest year ever for agents; no documented retaliation case | CATO Institute, PBS |
| Congressional visit restrictions needed | Two federal judges blocked the same policy as illegal; twice | Court records, Democracy Docket |
| "No spike in deaths" (DHS) | 32 deaths in 2025 = nearly triple 2024's 11 deaths | Axios, NPR, The Appeal |
| Operations target "worst of the worst" | 5% had violent crime records; 74% of detainees have no conviction | TRAC, CATO, ProPublica |
| Angola holds "most dangerous criminals" | ACLU: 70%+ of Louisiana immigration detainees have no criminal conviction | ACLU of Louisiana |
| "Over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens" arrested in Minneapolis | Multiple people on list were transferred before operation began (including one in 2003) | Wikipedia, media review |
Financial Irregularities¶
Dark Money Pipeline (ProPublica, 2025)¶
In 2023, while governor of South Dakota:
- Noem established "Ashwood Strategies," a personal LLC in Delaware
- Four minutes later, "American Resolve Policy Fund," a dark-money nonprofit, was incorporated in Delaware
- The nonprofit routed $80,000 to her personal LLC as a 10% "fundraising fee" on $800,000 raised
- The $80,000 was not disclosed on federal financial disclosure forms
- Ethics experts said the arrangement likely violates disclosure rules
- The original source of the money remains unknown (dark money group not required to disclose donors)
Former FEC attorney Daniel Weiner: "If donors to these nonprofits are not just holding the keys to an elected official's political future but also literally providing them with their income, that's new and disturbing."
South Dakota's former Republican Senate president Lee Schoenbeck: "There's no way the governor is supposed to have a private side business that the public doesn't know about."
$220 Million DHS Ad Campaign (ProPublica, 2025-2026)¶
ProPublica found that a DHS ad campaign Noem hailed as "crucial" for immigration enforcement:
- Cost more than $220 million in taxpayer funds
- Used "national emergency" designation to bypass competitive bidding
- $143 million went to "Safe America Media," a Delaware LLC created just days before receiving the contract
- Safe America Media lists its address as the Virginia home of a veteran Republican operative
- Senate Democrats called on the DHS inspector general to investigate potential self-dealing
Private Prison Ecosystem¶
While no direct donations from CoreCivic or GEO Group to Noem personally are documented, the financial ecosystem is clear:
- CoreCivic CEO: $300,000+ to Trump campaign/RNC
- GEO Group chairman: $1M+ in political contributions to Republicans
- Since Trump took office: GEO Group received $1 billion+ in federal contracts; CoreCivic received $544 million+
- As DHS Secretary, Noem oversees ICE, which is the primary client of both companies
- $45 billion appropriated for detention expansion under the Big Beautiful Bill Act
- $55 billion TITUS contract for mass detention infrastructure
Sources: ProPublica (3 investigations), NOTUS, The Intercept, ABC News, CNBC, In These Times. Confidence: HIGH (ecosystem) / MEDIUM (direct personal connection).
Impeachment Proceedings¶
Timeline¶
- January 7, 2026: Good killed. Noem labels her "domestic terrorist."
- January 8, 2026: Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) calls for Noem's removal or impeachment.
- January 15, 2026: Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) formally introduces articles of impeachment (H.Res.996).
- January 24, 2026: Pretti killed. Noem labels him "domestic terrorist."
- January 26, 2026: Articles have 140 co-sponsors.
- January 27-28, 2026: House Democratic leadership (Jeffries, Clark, Aguilar) jointly state: "Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings."
- February 2, 2026: 182 co-sponsors -- 85% of the Democratic caucus.
- February 2026: 50+ organizations endorse impeachment (Vote Latino, SEIU, Human Rights Campaign, United Farm Workers, others).
Articles of Impeachment¶
H.Res.996 charges Noem with:
1. Obstruction of Congress -- banning unannounced Congressional visits to detention facilities in violation of federal law
2. Violation of public trust -- issuing false statements about shooting victims, defaming dead citizens as "domestic terrorists" without investigation
3. Self-dealing -- financial improprieties (dark money, ad contracts, bypassing procurement)
Public Opinion¶
Data for Progress polling: 52% of voters support impeaching Noem; only 36% oppose (16-point margin). 80% of Democrats agree.
Political Reality¶
GOP holds House and Senate majorities. Democrats acknowledge impeachment will only proceed if they flip the House in 2026 midterms. Only two Cabinet members have ever been impeached by the House: Secretary of War William Belknap (1876) and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (2024). Neither was convicted or removed by the Senate.
Key Quotes¶
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ): "The fact that she didn't wait to see what the video that was coming out, automatically said that this man was brandishing a weapon, which we now know is not true. She lied about a citizen to justify his murder."
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): "Those two people told the president, before they even had any incident report whatsoever, that the person who died was a terrorist... that is amateur hour at its worst."
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN): "Instead of accepting responsibility, Secretary Noem deliberately and immediately began seeding a false narrative, sharing inaccurate information, and blaming the victim for her own death at the hands of a federal agent."
Sources: Congress.gov, CNBC, PBS, The Hill, The Nation, Truthout, Newsweek, NBC, Axios, Deseret News. Confidence: HIGH.
Accountability Assessment¶
What Kristi Noem Is Responsible For¶
As DHS Secretary, Noem bears command responsibility for:
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53+ deaths in ICE/CBP custody -- the deadliest period in two decades, driven by policies she implemented: population expansion without corresponding medical infrastructure, halting medical contractor payments, rapid facility openings without adequate staffing, and obstruction of the oversight that could have caught problems before people died.
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Two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents -- Renee Good and Alex Pretti died during Operation Metro Surge, which Noem personally participated in and publicly championed. She then defamed both victims as "domestic terrorists" based on claims contradicted by evidence, her own government's review, and basic video analysis.
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Systematic deception -- Noem issued false statements about at least two shootings, at least one arrest, detention death statistics, Congressional authority, and operation arrest numbers. These were not errors; they were rapid, confident, detailed assertions that served to justify violence and obstruct accountability.
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Obstruction of Congressional oversight -- two illegal memos, two federal court orders to stop, ongoing defiance. The second memo was issued secretly the day after an agent killed a citizen.
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Construction of mass detention infrastructure -- the $55 billion TITUS contract, 130+ new facilities, Angola prison, and the CECOT deportation pipeline represent the most rapid expansion of immigration detention capacity in American history. This infrastructure will outlast Noem's tenure.
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A culture of institutional violence -- under Noem's leadership, agents who employ aggressive tactics are promoted. Body camera footage is withheld. Agent identities are concealed. Chemical weapons are deployed against peaceful protesters. A federal judge found that DHS culture "celebrates violent responses over fair and diplomatic ones." This culture did not emerge in a vacuum; it was cultivated.
Consequences Faced¶
- Articles of impeachment introduced (H.Res.996; 182 co-sponsors)
- Named as defendant in multiple federal lawsuits
- Two federal court rulings blocking her policies
- Bipartisan calls for resignation (Tillis, Murkowski)
- 52% of voters support impeachment
Consequences NOT Faced¶
- Not fired by Trump ("very good job")
- Never testified before Congress about killings or deaths
- Never retracted any false statement
- Never apologized to any victim's family
- No agents under her command charged for any killing or beating
- No personal criminal charges
- No personal financial penalty
- Body camera footage from Pretti killing remains unreleased
- Agent identities remain concealed
Assessment¶
As of February 11, 2026, Kristi Noem has faced no meaningful personal consequences for presiding over the deadliest period in ICE detention history, for twice defaming killed citizens as "domestic terrorists" based on fabricated claims, for twice attempting to illegally obstruct Congressional oversight, for overseeing a $55 billion detention expansion routed through the Navy to bypass procurement law, or for cultivating an institutional culture in which agents kill, beat, and gas civilians without accountability.
The system has produced articles of impeachment that cannot pass a Republican-controlled House, court orders that DHS routinely evades and then reinstates under new legal theories, and bipartisan criticism that generates headlines but no policy change. Trump continues to defend her. The deaths continue. The infrastructure grows.
This is not a case of a system failing to hold a powerful person accountable. The system is working exactly as designed: to shield those who exercise state violence from consequences while amplifying the consequences for those who resist it.
Sources¶
Official Records and Government Documents¶
- Congress.gov -- H.Res.996, Articles of Impeachment -- https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/996/text
- DHS.gov -- Secretary Noem biography -- https://www.dhs.gov/kristi-noem
- DHS.gov -- "DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Hits the Streets" (Jan 6, 2026) -- https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/06/dhs-secretary-kristi-noem-hits-streets-ice-agents-major-minneapolis-enforcement
- DHS.gov -- CECOT visit photos -- https://www.dhs.gov/medialibrary/collections/59660
- DHS.gov -- Louisiana Lockup announcement -- https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/09/03/louisiana-lockup-new-partnership-dhs-and-state-louisiana-expand-detention-space
- DHS.gov -- "Historic Year" statement -- https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/12/19/under-president-trump-and-secretary-noem-department-homeland-security-has-historic
- House Homeland Security Committee Democrats -- 53 deaths letter -- https://democrats-homeland.house.gov/news/correspondence/democrats-demand-documents-from-kristi-noem-after-record-53-deaths-in-ice-and-cbp-custody-on-her-watch
- House Oversight Committee Democrats -- Minnesota report -- https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/doc/mn_oversight_report.pdf
- Rep. Betty McCollum -- Impeachment call -- https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-rep-betty-mccollum-calls-removal-or-impeachment-department-homeland
- AG Keith Ellison -- Minnesota v. DHS complaint -- https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Communications/2026/docs/00190_DHS_Complaint.pdf
Fact-Checking and Legal Analysis¶
- PolitiFact -- Noem calling Good a "domestic terrorist" -- https://www.politifact.com/article/2026/jan/08/Renee-Good-Noem-domestic-terrorism-Minneapolis/
- PolitiFact -- Pretti shooting fact-check -- https://www.politifact.com/article/2026/jan/26/fact-check-Trump-official-Noem-Alex-Pretti-death/
- Brennan Center -- "Labeling Renee Good a 'Domestic Terrorist' Distorts the Law" -- https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/labeling-renee-good-domestic-terrorist-distorts-law
- PBS -- Experts question "domestic terrorist" label -- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/experts-question-noem-calling-good-a-domestic-terrorist-heres-what-the-term-means
Investigative Journalism¶
- ProPublica -- Noem dark money investigation -- https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-political-donations-income-dark-money-dhs-ethics
- ProPublica -- DHS $220M ad contracts -- https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group
- ProPublica -- Lawmakers call for probe of Noem-tied firm -- https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-strategy-group-senate-probe
- ProPublica -- Window smashing by ICE -- https://projects.propublica.org/trump-ice-smashed-windows-deportation-arrests/
Detention Deaths and Conditions¶
- Axios -- ICE custody deaths record -- https://www.axios.com/2026/01/20/ice-custody-deaths-trump-surge
- NPR -- Deadliest year in ICE custody -- https://www.npr.org/2025/10/23/nx-s1-5538090/ice-detention-custody-immigration-arrest-enforcement-dhs-trump
- The Appeal -- Deaths in detention -- https://theappeal.org/ice-deaths-detention-record-high/
- American Immigration Council -- Deadlier than COVID -- https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/press-release/report-trump-immigration-detention-2026/
- POGO -- ICE inspections plummeted -- https://www.pogo.org/investigates/ice-inspections-plummeted-as-detentions-soared-in-2025
Congressional Access Ban¶
- NPR -- DHS restricts Congressional visits -- https://www.npr.org/2026/01/11/nx-s1-5673949/dhs-restricts-congressional-visits-to-ice-facilities-in-minneapolis-with-new-policy
- Axios -- ICE facility access limited -- https://www.axios.com/2026/01/11/noem-limits-congress-ice-facility-access-after-shooting
- Democracy Docket -- Judge blocks Noem's access ban (second time) -- https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/federal-judge-kristi-noem-limit-congress-oversight-immigration-facility/
- Government Executive -- Revived policy violates court order -- https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2026/01/house-democrats-say-revived-noem-policy-restricting-congressional-visits-ice-facilities-violates-court-order/410625/
CECOT Visit¶
- CNN -- Noem visits El Salvador prison -- https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/26/americas/kristi-noem-salvador-prison-visit-intl-latam
- Newsweek -- Photos of CECOT visit -- https://www.newsweek.com/photos-show-kristi-noems-visit-through-notorious-el-salvadoran-prison-2051165
- Reason -- Noem uses CECOT for content -- https://reason.com/2025/03/27/kristi-noem-uses-el-salvadors-nightmarish-megaprison-to-create-content/
Angola Prison¶
- PBS -- Noem, Bondi discuss Angola detention -- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-noem-bondi-discuss-plans-for-ice-detention-facility-in-notorious-louisiana-prison
- Washington Times -- Angola chosen "absolutely" for reputation -- https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/sep/3/kristi-noem-angola-prison-absolutely-chosen-hold-immigrant-detainees/
- Louisiana Illuminator -- ICE detainees at Angola -- https://lailluminator.com/2025/09/03/ice-angola/
Impeachment Coverage¶
- CNBC -- House Democrats: Fire Noem or impeach -- https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/27/house-democrats-kristi-noem-impeachment-trump.html
- NBC -- Democrats' calls grow louder -- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/democrats-grow-louder-calls-kristi-noem-resign-face-impeachment-rcna255844
- The Hill -- Articles of impeachment filed -- https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5688896-articles-of-impeachment-kristi-noem/
- Truthout -- 52% support impeachment -- https://truthout.org/articles/majority-of-voters-support-impeaching-kristi-noem-polling-finds/
Minneapolis / Operation Metro Surge¶
- Wikipedia -- Operation Metro Surge -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Metro_Surge
- Britannica -- 2025-26 Minnesota ICE Deployment -- https://www.britannica.com/event/2025-26-Minnesota-ICE-Deployment
- Sahan Journal -- Noem visits St. Paul -- https://sahanjournal.com/immigration/noem-visits-minnesota-immigration-east-side-st-paul-payne-avenue/
- NPR -- DHS keeps making false claims -- https://www.npr.org/2026/01/31/nx-s1-5690124/ice-alex-pretti-immigration-unproven-claims-dhs-enforcement-arrests
- NPR -- Internal review contradicts narrative -- https://www.npr.org/2026/01/27/g-s1-107608/alex-pretti-death-internal-review-immigration
Pretti Killing Specifics¶
- ABC News -- 2nd Amendment backlash over Pretti portrayal -- https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2nd-amendment-backlash-portrayal-alex-pretti-trump-administration/story?id=129559823
- CNN -- Officials' shifting rhetoric on Pretti -- https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/25/politics/trump-officials-shifting-rhetoric-alex-pretti
- HuffPost -- Noem addresses misleading statements -- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kristi-noem-pretti-hannity-interview_n_697c89fce4b0c02d1be13c6a
- OPB -- Internal review contradicts White House narrative -- https://www.opb.org/article/2026/01/29/internal-review-contradicts-white-house-narrative-of-prettis-death/
- Deseret News -- Bipartisan calls for Noem to resign -- https://www.deseret.com/politics/2026/01/28/kristi-noem-in-trouble-fired-ice-minnesota-dhs-alex-pretti-death/
Background¶
- Wikipedia -- Kristi Noem -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristi_Noem
- Britannica -- Kristi Noem biography -- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kristi-Noem
- NPR -- Tribes banned Noem from land -- https://www.npr.org/2024/05/15/1251493304/most-of-south-dakotas-tribes-have-banned-kristi-noem-from-their-land-heres-why
- CNN -- Noem banned from all tribal lands -- https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/22/politics/kristi-noem-tribal-lands-ban
- Washington Post -- Noem transforming DHS -- https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/01/25/noem-dhs-trump-immigration-arrests/
TITUS Contract¶
- CNN -- $10B Navy contract for detention centers -- https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/21/politics/navy-contract-detention-centers
- GovConWire -- Navy raises TITUS ceiling by $45B -- https://www.govconwire.com/articles/navy-wexmac-titus-contract-109-companies
- Common Dreams -- Military concentration camps -- https://www.commondreams.org/news/military-contract-concentration-camps
Portland¶
- Oregon Capital Chronicle -- Judge restricts tear gas at Portland -- https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/03/federal-judge-restricts-agents-use-of-tear-gas-munitions-against-crowds-at-portland-ice-facility/
- ACLU of Oregon -- Lawsuit filing -- https://www.aclu-or.org/en/cases/protest-rights-portland-ice-facility
Private Prison Industry¶
- NOTUS -- Private prison contractors lobbying -- https://www.notus.org/money/private-prisons-lobbying-corecivic-geo-group-immigration-detention
- The Intercept -- Private prison loan lobbying -- https://theintercept.com/2026/02/05/private-prison-corecivic-geo-group-ice-bank-loan/
- ABC News -- Private prison firms and Trump campaign -- https://abcnews.go.com/US/private-prison-firms-contributed-1m-trumps-reelection-now/story?id=116046776
This dossier is a living document. It will be updated as new evidence emerges.
Published by Mortui Vivos Docent Intelligence Project
Methodology: Bellingcat-standard OSINT -- public sources only
Three-source minimum for all major claims
Every. Human. Matters.
Every. Claim. Gets. Verified.