A Democratic effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has gained significant traction in the U.S. House of Representatives.

On Jan. 14, Representative Robin Kelly of Illinois introduced three articles of impeachment against Noem, and by Wednesday, she announced in a news release that 100 co-sponsors had joined her resolution, representing nearly half of the 213 Democrats in the House.

Democrats are angry about Noem’s leadership at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and her handling of immigration enforcement policies.

Impeachment Articles Target Noem’s Actions

The impeachment articles charge Noem with obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust, and self-dealing, alleging she attempted unlawful entry into a DHS detention facility for undocumented immigrants and directed ICE to conduct warrantless arrests while bypassing due process, Newsweek reported.

Further, the articles claim Noem misused her role for personal gain, including diverting $200 million in taxpayer funds for an ICE recruitment ad campaign, according to Kelly’s office.

Democratic Support Grows, Passage Unlikely

With 100 co-sponsors on board, the resolution carries symbolic weight, though passage remains a long shot given GOP majorities in both the House and Senate.

Scott Lucas, an international politics expert at University College Dublin, told Newsweek the measure is “an important symbolic move” but doubted its success, stating, “The idea that Noem could be impeached and convicted doesn't fly because the Republicans will protect her.”

Symbolic or not, Lucas’s nod to accountability sounds more like a lecture than a strategy—Republicans aren’t likely to budge when they see this as a partisan push during a midterm election year.

DHS Pushes Back on Criticism

DHS, for its part, isn’t taking the impeachment effort lying down, with a spokesperson previously calling it “silly” in a statement to Newsweek.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin doubled down, telling Newsweek, “DHS is a law enforcement agency—enforcing the rule of law passed by Congress. If members don't like the law, it is quite literally their job to change it.”

McLaughlin’s point cuts sharp—Congress should focus on legislative fixes rather than theatrical stunts, especially when ICE officers face a reported 1,300 percent spike in assaults against them.

Policy Disputes or Political Theater?

Critics of the resolution, including DHS, argue that Kelly and her allies are prioritizing optics over substance, with a spokesperson telling Newsweek that Kelly seems more focused on “fundraising clicks” than addressing issues in her own Chicago district.

While Democrats paint Noem as a rogue operator, the reality of immigration enforcement is messy—DHS insists it’s simply upholding laws Congress wrote, not inventing them.

Turning up the heat with impeachment might rally a progressive base, but it risks alienating voters who see this as a distraction from tackling border security or public safety head-on.