Jeffries Calls DHS Secretary Noem 'Unqualified' and Says She 'Should Be Run Out Of Town' After Minneapolis ICE Shooting

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday sharply criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying she is unfit for the role and should be removed from office amid fallout from a deadly ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis.

Jeffries spoke at a press conference following the incident and singled out Secretary Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for what he described as a pattern of dangerous conduct and mismanagement.

Renee Nicole Good moments before she was shot and killed by federal agent in Minneapolis.

"What is clear is that Kristi Noem is completely and totally unqualified. She should have never been confirmed by Senate Republicans. It's disgraceful that she's there. She should be run out of town as soon as possible," Jeffries said.

The remarks come after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis last week. Video of the encounter appears to show Good's vehicle make contact with the ICE agent before the officer fired. Officials dispute key details: federal authorities contend the agent perceived a threat and acted in self-defense, while critics argue the shooting was unjustified and have demanded accountability.

Jeffries accused Secretary Noem and the ICE officer involved of a "depraved indifference toward human life," saying Good "should be alive today." He also warned that Democrats in Congress may withhold support for Homeland Security funding unless meaningful reforms and oversight measures are enacted.

A crashed car at the scene where an ICE agent shot Renee Good.

In response, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News Digital: "How silly during a serious time. As ICE officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, Rep. Jeffries is more focused on showmanship and sewing division than cleaning up his crime-ridden New York district. Rep. Jeffries has the power to make change as the Minority Leader and we hope he would get serious about doing his job to protect American people, which is what this Department is doing under Secretary Noem. We won't hold our breath."

Local Democratic leaders — including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — have criticized ICE and Republican officials for escalating tensions in the city and have called for federal operations there to be paused while investigations proceed. Republicans in the House have pushed for hearings into the shooting, and partisan debate has intensified across Capitol Hill.

Jeffries framed the dispute in the context of an upcoming spending bill, saying the Homeland Security appropriations measure could be conditioned on reforms. "What's in front of us right now is a spending bill that will go either one of two ways," he said, urging commonsense measures to ensure that ICE conducts itself consistently with other law enforcement agencies.

Congress faces a deadline to complete federal funding and avoid a partial government shutdown by the end of day on Jan. 30. Fox News Digital reported it had reached out to DHS for comment and included the department's response.