Voto Latino and Over 70 Organizations Demand Congressional Oversight of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
Washington, D.C. — Voto Latino, alongside more than 70 national and regional organizations, issued a letter to Congressional leadership demanding immediate and comprehensive oversight of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The letter outlines a deeply troubling pattern of unconstitutional overreach, endangerment of U.S. citizens, and blatant violations of civil rights under her leadership.
“In just a few months, Secretary Noem has weaponized DHS against the very people it is meant to protect,” said María Teresa Kumar, President and Co-founder of Voto Latino. “From unlawful ICE raids on American citizens to the physical assault of a sitting U.S. Senator, her actions betray the Constitution and endanger our democracy. Congress must act now.”
The letter, addressed to House and Senate leadership, calls for an immediate oversight hearing to investigate whether Secretary Noem’s actions have violated constitutional protections and congressional authority. It is signed by a diverse coalition of civil rights, faith, labor, and immigrant advocacy organizations.
The coalition letter details multiple incidents, including:
- Physical force against Senator Alex Padilla, tackled and handcuffed by security while attempting to question Secretary Noem at a public event.
- Unlawful ICE raids, including the violent detainment of U.S. citizens, lawful residents, and children without due process or cause.
- Disregard for Due Process: A pattern of misstatements and actions that undermine the constitutional protections of due process, threatening the rights of all individuals under U.S. law.
- Shutdown of the DHS Civil Rights Office, eliminating vital investigations and recourse for abuse victims.
- Detention of Native American citizens and foster youth, violating federal trust and treaty responsibilities.
- Misstatements of constitutional law, including a fundamental misunderstanding of habeas corpus during a Senate hearing.
“These are not isolated incidents—they represent a systemic failure in judgment, leadership, and accountability,” Kumar continued. “Secretary Noem has undermined oversight, dismantled civil rights protections, and placed vulnerable communities in harm’s way.”
Voto Latino remains committed to working with congressional leaders to uphold civil rights, defend democratic institutions, and ensure that no community is left vulnerable to government overreach.
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.