Southern California members of Congress did not mince words in Los Angeles on Wednesday, gathering at Pan Pacific Park to demand the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after two fatal federal shootings in Minneapolis that have sparked nationwide protests. Lawmakers said the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti revealed what they called an unchecked enforcement program and a collapse in public trust. The Fairfax neighborhood rally drew elected officials, advocates and residents for a very public rebuke of DHS leadership.
At Pan Pacific Park, Reps. Laura Friedman, Judy Chu and Brad Sherman called for sweeping changes at the Department of Homeland Security and urged that Noem be removed, as reported by ABC7 Los Angeles. ABC7 quoted Friedman saying, “We cannot let DHS operate like a secret police force, unchecked and unaccountable.” Lawmakers also took aim at Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and argued that personnel moves in Minnesota were nowhere near sufficient.
Friedman later accused Noem of lying and, in remarks aired by ABC7, said “she has lost the public’s trust because instead of being focused on leading a law enforcement agency, she’s been leading a cover-up.” In a press release, Friedman’s office said it will withhold funding for ICE and DHS until Operation Metro Surge ends, federal agents wear clear identification and follow warrant requirements. The release cites Rep. Robin Kelly’s impeachment resolution and the No Masks for ICE Act as tools Friedman supports to force transparency and accountability at DHS.
What Happened in Minneapolis
The Los Angeles rally followed two separate Minneapolis incidents in January. Renée Good was killed during an ICE operation on Jan. 7, and Alex Pretti was shot and killed during a Border Patrol encounter on Jan. 24. Reporting by The Washington Post and other national outlets has detailed video and forensic evidence that conflicts with initial federal accounts, fueling public anger and protests across the country. That gap between officials’ statements and independently reviewed footage has become a central argument in lawmakers’ demands for aggressive oversight.
Legal and Political Fallout
On Jan. 25, a Minnesota judge issued a temporary restraining order to prevent DHS and affiliated agencies from altering or destroying evidence in the Pretti case, a step local officials said was needed to protect the criminal investigation, according to FOX 9. Customs and Border Protection also confirmed that the two agents who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave, which officials described as routine while investigations are underway, coverage from outlets including The Guardian noted. At the Los Angeles event, lawmakers said those moves were only a starting point and pressed for firings and independent investigations into senior officials who directed the operation.
What Comes Next in Washington
The political pressure is now squarely on Washington. A spokesperson for the Senate Judiciary Committee said Secretary Noem is scheduled to testify before the panel on March 3, and House Democrats have expanded impeachment momentum, with Rep. Robin Kelly’s resolution picking up widespread cosponsors, according to Kelly’s office. That means the demands voiced in Los Angeles may soon collide with formal oversight hearings and funding fights on Capitol Hill.
Back in Los Angeles, Friedman and other Southern California members said they will keep pressing the issue in their districts and in committee, and are prepared to block DHS funding until their reforms are in place, per Friedman’s office. The rally underscored how a Minneapolis enforcement operation has quickly turned into a national political flashpoint, pulling local leaders into a heated fight over how, and whether, the federal government enforces immigration laws.
