Democrats are once again circling their favorite political scapegoat—Immigration and Customs Enforcement—after a fatal shooting in Minnesota, using a tragic incident to revive long-standing demands to defund ICE and even impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. But the latest push has exposed deep fractures within the Democratic Party, as its radical wing collides with party leaders desperate to avoid political blowback.
The shooting, which occurred January 7, 2026, involved a 37-year-old woman who was killed during an ICE operation after allegedly attempting to run over a federal agent with her vehicle and ignoring repeated commands to exit. While federal officials have described the incident as a clear case of self-defense, Democrats have wasted no time turning it into a rallying cry against immigration enforcement.
Progressives immediately demanded ICE be defunded and Secretary Noem impeached. Yet earlier this same week, top Democratic leaders quietly admitted that defunding ICE isn’t even on the table.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries both said their priority is protecting Obamacare—not gutting immigration enforcement. That admission landed like a lead balloon among activists who have spent years chanting “Abolish ICE” and now see a moment to push their agenda.
Still, the far Left pressed ahead. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), who has previously supported government shutdowns to defund ICE, lashed out, claiming the woman was “lied about” and emphasizing her race and citizenship status—an apparent attempt to frame the incident as politically useful rather than legally relevant.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez piled on, accusing ICE of “disappearing people off the street,” despite the fact that the individual involved was allegedly engaged in a violent confrontation with law enforcement. Facts, as usual, took a back seat to ideology.
The most extreme response came from Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), who announced plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem, branding her “an incompetent leader” and accusing ICE of “unleashing destruction.” Kelly offered no credible evidence of wrongdoing—only overheated rhetoric and sweeping accusations.
Other Democrats echoed the sentiment. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) warned that Democrats “cannot vote” for a DHS budget without restraining ICE, while Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) went even further, calling ICE agents “illegal killers” and a “rogue force”—language that critics say directly fuels violence against law enforcement.
That rhetoric has already had consequences. Minneapolis and other cities erupted in protests following the shooting, with crowds growing so unruly that police were forced to deploy pepper spray and pepper balls to restore order. Instead of calming tensions, Democratic officials poured gasoline on the fire.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told ICE to “get the f**k out of the city,” absurdly blaming federal agents—not violent agitators—for the chaos. “We do not want you here,” Frey declared, accusing ICE of “ripping families apart” while ignoring the immediate threat faced by officers on the ground.
For Republicans, the pattern is painfully familiar: Democrats demonize law enforcement, incite unrest, then feign outrage when order breaks down. While impeachment of Secretary Noem is almost certainly dead on arrival, the continued push to defund ICE signals that the Left has learned nothing.
At a time when border security, fraud, and public safety dominate national concerns, Democrats appear more interested in appeasing activists than upholding the rule of law—no matter the cost.
