Rep. Panetta Statement Calling for Resignation, Removal, and Impeachment of Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller and DHS leadership
Washington, DC — Rep. Panetta released the following statement:
"The recent deadly shootings of people in communities across the country by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers reveal a failure in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and in this Administration. The horrific shooting death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis was unnecessary, but predictable based on the unprofessionalism and lack of training that appears to pervade the ranks of ICE and CBP.
"The recent shootings are reported to stem from the rushed implementation by DHS of President Trump's deportation policy, that is created and driven by Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller. That massive immigration crackdown, along with the current injection of $165 billion in funding for DHS from the purely partisan One Big Beautiful Bill Act is not only growing the ranks of ICE and CBP officers, but also pushing them through a reduced training program of 47 days and pushing them away from the border and into urban and suburban settings across the nation.
"The ICE and CBP officers appear to be untrained for that environment, and unprofessional when it comes to confrontations with people and protestors. DHS Secretary Noem is responsible for implementing the Administration's deportation policy and the standards and oversight that govern ICE and CBP operations. However, based on reporting and what we've seen, it appears that the ranks of ICE and CBP are filled with substandard officers that are poorly trained, sheltered from the consequences of their actions, and empowered to behave recklessly and with impunity. Moreover, and as we experienced after the shooting in Minneapolis, the Administration, including President Trump, provides irresponsible defenses and explanations for this ineptitude, which appear to normalize brutality, violence, and lawlessness, rather than accountability and transparency. That is why I continue to call for accountability through a full independent investigation into the shootings of people by ICE and CBP officers, including what transpired in Minnesota.
"Moreover, as the architect and implementor of this overreaching, failed, and dangerous deportation policy that makes our communities less safe, Stephen Miller, as well as the DHS Secretary, must resign or be removed from their positions. If President Trump refuses to remove these individuals from his Administration, the House and Senate must act accordingly. I support impeachment proceedings based on the accountability investigation that is currently being conducted by the House Committee on Homeland Security and being led by Democratic ranking member Bennie Thompson. I also support an investigation by the House Committee on Judiciary led by Democratic ranking member Jamie Raskin into the DHS Secretary’s management. Such investigations will help provide the foundation and facts upon which we could properly begin formal impeachment proceedings. Unfortunately, the Republican Majority and chairmen of those two committees will not act. Moreover, for an impeachment to succeed it must garner a majority of votes in the Republican-led House of Representatives to adopt articles of impeachment and then get sent to the Republican-led Senate for final adjudication.
"Despite the burdens that we face with this Republican led Congress and Senate, we must stand together and act to try to ensure that the Trump Administration is held accountable. That is why I call on Congress to act now to restrain Stephen Miller and DHS leadership and stop the recklessness and violence by ICE and CBP. Now more than ever, Democrats and Republicans in Congress must fulfill our Constitutional responsibilities with proper oversight to check this executive branch and to ensure transparency, accountability, and safety in our communities."