Rep. Min: “America is based on the bedrock principle that no one is above the law. But DHS and ICE agents believe they are above the law, indiscriminately committing violent crimes against their fellow Americans. That must change”

Washington, D.C. —  Representative Dave Min (CA-47) published a new op-ed in the Orange County Register denouncing the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security and its culture of violence.

Rep. Min slammed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership and her failure to comply with Congressional oversight. Rep. Min said, “Kristi Noem must go. Her complete contempt for the rule of law makes her unfit to serve. If she does not resign and is not removed, I will push for her impeachment.”

Read more below.

The OC Register

Dave Min: Trump’s lawless DHS is tearing America apart

Dave Min

• The murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by masked federal agents earlier this month shocked our consciences. But it is important to understand these killings were the inevitable result of a culture of violence and lawlessness at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in which masked DHS agents have been routinely engaging in brazenly criminal acts across the country for months with no accountability or oversight.

• To be clear, punching someone in the face because you don’t like the sign they are holding is a crime. Same with pulling a gun on or spraying bear mace at a peaceful bystander. And yet we have seen literally thousands of clearly documented crimes like these committed by DHS agents over the past year with no consequences or even investigations.

• This is part of a broader culture of lawlessness and contempt for accountability that permeates DHS and ICE. Whether it was DHS illegally deporting asylum seekers in direct violation of a court order, deporting citizens (including children), or the memorandum instructing ICE agents to illegally break into people’s homes without a warrant, it is clear the Trump administration believes they are above the law. Vice President JD Vance even went so far to make the plainly erroneous claim that ICE agents enjoy “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution, no matter their actions.

• I have sent multiple letters to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem seeking more transparency around ICE, including whether any ICE agents had criminal histories or ties to extremist or domestic terror organizations, and what investigations were underway in response to allegations of ICE misconduct. To date, we have received zero responses to these oversight requests.

• And when ICE agents have been caught redhanded breaking the law, the Trump administration has dusted off the same playbook every time – smear the victim and falsely claim that the ICE agents were acting in self-defense, just as they did with Renee Good and Alex Pretti. We saw this dynamic play out last year here in Orange County, when ICE agents were caught on video repeatedly punching Narciso Barranco, a father of three Marines and longtime OC resident. After the videos went viral, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin falsely accused Barranco of attacking the ICE agents with a weapon, a claim DHS later withdrew.

• In Minnesota, the Trump administration is now backpedaling, replacing controversial commander Greg Bovino and announcing the end of their inflammatory warrantless raids. Two agents involved with shooting Pretti were suspended, the first time ICE agents involved in a shooting or death have faced any consequences over the past year. A bipartisan coalition of senators are demanding key changes, including an end to masking by DHS agents and additional training, before they support any new funding for DHS.

• But while these are all important and necessary developments, they are not enough.

• America is based on the bedrock principle that no one is above the law. But DHS and ICE agents believe they are above the law, indiscriminately committing violent crimes against their fellow Americans. That must change.

• Kristi Noem must go. Her complete contempt for the rule of law makes her unfit to serve. If she does not resign and is not removed, I will push for her impeachment.

• Same with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has repeatedly blocked investigations into crimes committed by ICE agents and instead has weaponized the DOJ to launch a host of baseless criminal investigations into Donald Trump’s critics and targets, including indicting New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, and criminally investigating Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and Senators Adam Schiff and Mark Kelly.

• We also need independent investigations into every incident where ICE agents were accused of using excessive force, including discharging “non-lethal” ordinances like tear gas and rubber bullets against non-violent bystanders.

• Finally, it is long past time we critically analyzed the role of immigration enforcement. I support strong border controls but what ICE is doing in our cities and communities right now is un-American and unconscionable. ICE cannot continue to be allowed to operate in its current form.

• Americans are disgusted. Our taxpayer dollars are being used to trample our constitutional rights and fund a campaign of violence against us. We are facing a constitutional and moral crisis. We must rise up to meet the moment, and I hope my Republican colleagues will join me.