Congressman accuses Noem of lying

Recognize the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Thanedar, for five minutes of questioning. Please remember to stick to the five minutes.

Thank you, Chairman Garbarino and Ranking Member Thompson for having this hearing today. I know the American people have been demanding answers from this administration on their unlawful actions, so I hope we are able to get some useful answers from our witnesses today. Secretary Noem, this past May, I asked you during a congressional hearing if it was the policy of DHS to follow orders issued by federal courts. You said on the record, and I'm quoting here, "We are following all federal orders," end of my quote-- end of your quote. Secretary Noem, you lied to me under oath that day. You lied to the American people. And you have betrayed the trust placed upon you in your role as Secretary of Homeland Security. You defied federal court orders when you refused to order the deportation flights to El Salvador in March to turn around. Federal courts have also found your department to have violated federal injunctions in your continue to send noncitizens on deportation flights, with some courts having called your orders unlawful. Secretary Noem, I just have three questions for you. One, why did you lie under oath by saying DHS was following all federal court orders when they clearly were not? Question two-- let me finish my questions. Question two, why did you mislead the American people when you said that no American citizens have been arrested or detained by federal immigration agents? And my last question, number three, Donald Trump said that your ICE agents haven't gone far enough. Do you think terrorizing American citizens and assaulting peaceful protesters isn't far enough? Congressman, the Department of Homeland Security and this administration complies with all federal court orders. We always have, and we always will.

Not true. And we will continue to appeal. And sir, I will even tell you that at the highest court, at the Supreme Court, the Department of Homeland Security in our litigation has an over 90% success rate in winning at the highest court in our battle against activist judges across this country.

Madam Secretary-- Look, we'll continue to appeal. And then when it gets to the highest court and we get a decision, it is proven that we were right--

I want to reclaim my time. --that we have been compliant. I will also say-- Madam Secretary, let me-- Do you want me to answer your questions or not? I do, but you haven't been telling us the truth. Look, there have been at least 170 known cases of citizens being arrested or detained by federal immigration agents this year alone. This is the truth. Are you lying to the American people right now by denying these reports? When we are doing our targeted enforcement operations against criminal illegal aliens, individuals that are in that area may be detained until we verify who they are, and then they are released. This has been done for years. In every single law enforcement operation, that has always happened. We follow the same protocols, and we continue to do that. We have never once detained or deported an American citizen. We have not held them, not charged them. Not true. When we find out to verify their identity, then that is when they are released. You also asked about ICE agents going far enough. Sir, I will tell you that every single ICE agent, CBP agent, federal law enforcement officer that's out there doing their work every day, none of them will rest until our communities are safe. None of them will rest until terrorists and criminals-- Secretary Noem, it is a fact that you ignore federal orders. --are off of our streets and our children and our grandchildren can grow up in a country that's really safe. Let me reclaim my time here, please. Secretary Noem, it is a fact that you ignored federal court orders in March and in May of this year. Do you plan on ignoring more federal orders? We always comply with federal orders. I'm sick of your lies. And the American people demand the truth. Because you keep saying it doesn't make it true. I am sick of your lies. The American people are sick of these lies. American people demand truth. America is very happy that, finally, they have a president in the White House that gets up every day to keep them safe. Madam Secretary, your incompetence and your inability to truthfully carry out your duties of Secretary of Homeland Security, if you're not fired, will you resign? Sir, I will consider your asking me to resign as an endorsement of my work. Thank you very much. I yield back my time.