ISTANBUL

US Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if she does not step down.

In a video shared Monday through US-based social media company X, the Democratic senator aligned herself with mounting demands for Noem’s impeachment, citing concerns over her management of the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts in the US state of Minnesota and nationwide.

“Kristi Noem should resign, and if she doesn’t, Congress should impeach her and remove her from office. In America, we still believe in accountability, not lies,” Warren said.

Warren accused the secretary of misleading the public about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and intensive care nurse at the city’s Veterans Affairs hospital. Pretti was killed by a Border Patrol agent during a protest against federal immigration enforcement.

Following the shooting, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged that Pretti intended to “massacre law enforcement” and “murder federal agents.”

However, bystander video footage appeared to contradict those claims.

Pretti, who was legally permitted to carry a concealed firearm, was not shown holding a weapon at any point in the available videos. Instead, footage showed an agent removing a concealed weapon from Pretti’s waistband shortly before another agent shot him in the back.

“(US President) Donald Trump and Kristi Noem think that they can tell you what to believe. They think you will believe them instead of your own eyes. Don’t roll over for a lie. These lies have to stop,” Warren said.

“We cannot allow this shooting and ICE’s blatant violations of law to be covered up. It’s time to rein in the federal agents who think they can swagger through our streets, throw people to the ground, shoot American citizens, and then count on protection from Trump and Noem.”

She added that a comprehensive and independent investigation was necessary and that those responsible should be held fully accountable under the law, stressing that the victims deserved justice.

Responding to the calls for impeachment, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia Laughlin said in a statement to political news outlet The Hill that the department is tasked with enforcing laws passed by Congress.

“DHS enforces the laws Congress passes, period. If certain members don’t like those laws, changing them is literally their job,” Laughlin said.

She added that assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have increased sharply, and accused critics of prioritizing attacks on law enforcement over public safety.

“While ICE officers are facing a staggering 1,300% spike in assaults, too many politicians would rather defend criminals and attack the men and women who are enforcing our laws and did nothing while (former US President) Joe Biden facilitated an invasion of tens of millions of illegal aliens into our country,” the statement said, adding that DHS remains focused on protecting the public under Noem’s leadership.