Southern New Mexico congressman joins effort to remove Kristi Noem as national attention remains focused on a fatal ICE encounter and civil-liberties concerns

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) has co-sponsored articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, joining a small group of lawmakers calling for her removal as national attention remains focused on a fatal ICE encounter in Minneapolis and broader questions about federal enforcement tactics.

Vasquez announced his move Wednesday, saying he signed onto articles of impeachment against Noem and accusing her of violating civil liberties and undermining public trust in federal law enforcement.

“I just signed onto articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem,” Vasquez said in a written statement.

What Vasquez is alleging

Vasquez said that under Noem’s leadership, immigration enforcement tactics have become increasingly aggressive and harmful to communities.

“Under her direction, we have seen masked ICE agents unleash increasingly violent tactics across the country that make our communities less safe, especially for people of color,” Vasquez said. “It’s cruel, unacceptable, and will have lasting impacts.”

He accused Noem of violating civil liberties and obstructing congressional oversight, saying Americans deserve a DHS secretary who enforces the law while also protecting constitutional rights.

“Americans deserve a DHS Secretary who is committed to enforcing our laws — including those that protect Americans’ civil liberties — but instead Sec. Noem has systematically violated Americans’ rights and undermined their trust,” he said.

Vasquez also criticized DHS leadership over disaster response, citing communities affected by events such as flooding in Ruidoso.

“She is unfit to serve as DHS Secretary,” Vasquez said. “She’s got to go.”

The national context

Vasquez did not specifically name the Minneapolis incident as the sole reason for his decision, but his move comes as scrutiny of ICE and DHS leadership has intensified following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a Minneapolis woman who was shot by an ICE agent during an immigration enforcement operation earlier this month.

The killing has drawn protests, political reaction and national debate over the use of force by federal agents. Federal authorities have said the incident is under investigation, while details of what happened remain contested by different parties.

The case has become a flashpoint in broader arguments over immigration enforcement, civil liberties and the role of federal agencies.

What impeachment means

Impeachment is a formal process in the U.S. House of Representatives that allows lawmakers to bring charges against federal officials. If the House votes to impeach, the case then moves to the U.S. Senate for a trial. Removal from office requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate, a high threshold that is rarely met.

At this stage, co-sponsoring articles of impeachment does not automatically trigger hearings or votes. Whether the effort advances depends on whether House leadership and other members choose to take it up.

So far, there has been no indication that House leadership plans to move quickly on the impeachment articles.

Why this matters locally

Vasquez represents southern New Mexico, including Doña Ana County, which borders Mexico and includes border communities such as Sunland Park, Anthony and Santa Teresa. Federal immigration enforcement and border policy directly affect daily life in the region, from cross-border travel and family ties to federal law-enforcement activity and local economies. His decision places the area’s congressman in the middle of a national fight over how immigration laws are enforced and how much authority federal agencies should wield.

Supporters of the impeachment effort say the articles are meant to force public debate and congressional scrutiny of DHS practices. Critics argue the move is largely symbolic unless it gains broad support in the House.

What happens next will depend on whether the impeachment effort gains traction. Without wider backing, the articles are unlikely to advance. But Vasquez and other supporters say they plan to continue pressing for hearings and oversight related to federal enforcement tactics and DHS leadership.