Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Thursday was forced to face a combat veteran whose Irish wife has remained in prison for four months and is facing deportation over two bad checks she wrote 10 years ago — and the internet didn't hold back.
Noem, who is rumored to be on the chopping block, was confronted during the House Homeland Security Committee with a question from Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), who followed up her claim, “We have not deported U.S. citizens or military veterans,” by asking, “I don't believe you served in the military. I haven't either, but I think you and I can agree that, as Americans, we owe everything to those who have served our country in uniform, particularly those who have served in combat. Do you agree with that?”
“I believe that people that are in this United States, that are citizens, have legal status here," Noem said in response.
But Magaziner turned the tables on Noem. He offered up a Purple Heart veteran who is now living in South Korea due to ICE, and who appeared at the hearing via Zoom, before directing her attention to veteran Jim Brown, who was in the audience and whose wife, a native of Ireland, has been jailed by DHS for four months as she awaits deportation.
People had strong reactions to the moment online:
"Great work here by @Rep_Magaziner exposing DHS Secretary Noem for lying about deporting veterans," Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) wrote on X.
"Shameful. And these are just ones we know about now. Noem never should have been confirmed. But she should be fired over this alone," Paul Rieckhoff, veteran and founder and executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, wrote on X.
"WOW," activist and founder of Leaders We Deserve, David Hogg, wrote on X.
"Must watch on just a little - just a little — of the inhumanity in Trump immigration enforcement," Gene Sperling, former advisor to President Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton, wrote on X.
"If you didn't see @Rep_Magaziner question Noem. It's a must-watch. We need all of our lawmakers to come this prepared," Lana Quest, host of the Quest Show, wrote on X.
"This is extremely well thought out and impressive political stagecraft and narrative-building that doesn’t feel obviously PR-coded or exploitative," Chris Harihar, Executive Vice President at Crenshaw, wrote on X.
"Truly one of the most astonishing scenes i’ve ever watched play out in Congress," Zeteo writer Peter Rothpletz wrote on X.
"In such dark times it's so sweet feeling to see them caught in a lie that no wiggling will get out of," author John Hubach wrote on X.