Indian American lawmakers have welcomed the removal of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem from her post by President Donald Trump on March 5, 2026. President Trump announced Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as her replacement.

Representative Suhas Subramanyam said Noem’s removal was long overdue, citing concerns about her leadership and actions during her tenure.

“Kristi Noem should have been fired a long time ago. Her corruption, self-dealing, and tolerance and advocacy for lawlessness at ICE were sufficient grounds for termination,” said Rep. Subramanyam, adding, “On top of that, she fired high-performing, experienced federal workers and contractors in our community who kept our country safe.”

According to Subramanyam, Noem was “never fit to serve,” and the Department needs a “capable, qualified leader” who will guide the agency forward while protecting the American people.

Rep. Subramanyam is also a co-sponsor of articles of impeachment against Noem and voted against the Department of Homeland Security funding bill.

“House Democrats have been very clear about what we want. We want accountability and transparency for ICE,” the Congressman added. “That includes masks off of federal agents and no more administrative warrants. DHS doesn’t need to be shut down. We have a bill that would fund most of DHS except ICE and the office of the Secretary, but House Republicans have refused to bring it to the floor.”

Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi also welcomed Noem’s removal. His comments came a day after he moved to subpoena her over what he described as abuses by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including enforcement operations in Chicago such as Operation Midway Blitz.

“Secretary Noem’s removal does not erase the abuses that occurred on her watch in the Trump administration. It only reinforces why Congress must continue demanding accountability,” added Rep. Krishnamoorthi. “I commend Congresswoman Kelly for her leadership in introducing articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem as part of our broader efforts to expose these abuses and ensure that no one is above the law.”

He also criticized immigration enforcement actions carried out during her tenure.

By replacing Secretary Noem with Senator Mullin, President Trump is hoping to distract from reckless, “militarized immigration raids, including Operation Midway Blitz,” that have spread fear in communities across the country and left multiple people dead, he added.

According to Krishnamoorthi, changing the leadership will not alter the underlying policies.

“The American people deserve a Department of Homeland Security that respects the rule of law and answers to the public. We must abolish Trump’s ICE,” he added.

Representative Pramila Jayapal noted that Krishnamoorthi had moved to subpoena Secretary Noem during a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, citing deadly shootings involving federal immigration agents, the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens, and DHS’s failure to respond to repeated congressional oversight requests. The motion was blocked by House Republicans, though Krishnamoorthi vowed to continue holding the Trump administration accountable.

“Good riddance. I called for Secretary Noem to be fired, to resign, or to be impeached yesterday, and now she has been,” Rep. Jayapal added. “Kristi Noem has overseen a lawless DHS that killed two Americans in the street, put children in prison camps, separated families, detained US citizens, led to 41 deaths in custody, and wasted millions of taxpayer dollars.”

Jayapal said Congress cannot fund DHS until there is clear evidence that meaningful structural changes are being implemented.

Representative Ami Bera also welcomed the decision. The Department of Homeland Security was created to keep “Americans safe,” said Rep. Bera. 

He added, “Kristi Noem failed to execute that mission. That’s why I supported her impeachment. I am glad to see her go,” noting, “We must restore leadership at DHS that respects the Constitution, due process, and the rule of law.”

Representative Shri Thanedar also weighed in, saying simply, “Asked her to resign months ago.”

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