US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stands by her remarks, calling the actions of two US citizens who were shot by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis “domestic terrorism”.

Democrats and some Republicans pressed Noem, who oversees President Donald Trump’s immigration efforts, over her comments during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday.

In what was initially billed as an effort to stamp out fraud in Minnesota, the Department of Homeland Security has sent hundreds of officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection to the state. They were met by protesters who organized marches, patrolled neighborhoods for ICE activity with whistles and transported food to immigrants too afraid to leave their homes.

Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by an ICE officer on Jan. 7, sparking intense protests calling for the operation to end. Then on Jan. 24, Customs and Border Protection agents opened fire on another Minnesota resident, Alex Pretti, 37, who was filming the enforcement operation.

These deaths led to cries for accountability and transparency. Noem, whose initial comments portrayed both Good and Pretti as aggressors, faced sharp criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans, who called for her resignation.

WATCH | Video clip of Alex Pretti’s fatal shooting:

Was Alex Pretti a ‘potential killer’? We’re streaming video of the fatal ICE | shooting About that

US government officials say ICE agents fatally shot Alex Pretti at a protest in Minneapolis because he was carrying a gun and, according to Stephen Miller, the US president’s homeland security adviser, was a ‘potential killer’. Andrew Chang breaks down several video angles of the shooting, moment by moment, to understand how accurate the government’s initial account is. Images courtesy of The Canadian Press, Reuters and Getty Images

Noem aims to provide ‘factual information’

Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the committee, repeatedly asked Noem if he would retract his statements about Good and Pretti, as well as his similar remarks about another American citizen who survived after being shot five times in a standoff with federal agents in Chicago.

“I was getting reports from the ground, from agents on the scene,” Noem testified, calling the situation chaotic but refusing to retract or apologize for her statements. “I absolutely strive to provide factual information.”

Noem, who was appointed by Trump last year, faced tough questions from senators about the president’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics during the hearing, her first appearance before Congress since Good and Pretti were killed. Outrage over their deaths prompted the Trump administration to shift its strategy, moving away from large-scale urban-targeted waves to a more targeted approach.

Under Noah, thousands of undercover federal agents were deployed to American cities, where they scoured neighborhoods for possible immigrant criminals and clashed with residents and protesters.

WATCH | Noem stands by his accusations:

Noem stands by his remarks calling the American citizens killed in Minneapolis terrorists

During congressional testimony on Tuesday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refused to retract or apologize for her statements in January when two US citizens were shot by domestic terrorists in Minneapolis by federal immigration officials. Statements from local officials and video by passersby contradicted her comments. Noem’s hearing was occasionally interrupted by the shouts of protesters.

Congressional Democrats have refused to agree to new funding for her department without changes to immigration enforcement practices. Funding for the 260,000-employee department expired last month, but most of its immigration enforcement and national security operations are considered essential and continue to do so.

Noem said Tuesday that 650 federal agents remain in Minnesota, down from about 3,000 in January.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the committee, acknowledged in opening remarks that the administration had “made mistakes,” but defended immigration officials, saying they “should never be threatened or harmed while enforcing our laws.”

Trump said mass deportations were needed after high levels of illegal immigration under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, and defended Noem’s performance on the job.

House Democrats launched an impeachment effort in January, saying immigration agents under her leadership violated the civil rights of American citizens, she blocked congressional oversight of migrant detention centers and awarded government contracts to Republican-linked companies and people connected to her close associates.

Impeachment efforts are unlikely to succeed, as the House of Representatives is controlled by Republicans.

WATCH | Renee Good’s fatal shooting as seen on ICE agent’s phone tape:

An ICE agent’s phone video shows his perspective on the deadly shooting in Minneapolis

As talk of a duel continues over the fatal shooting of Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, a new video shows the encounter from the officer’s perspective — including footage of Good appearing to turn the wheel and drive forward before the officer opened fire.

War in Iran raised during hearings

Grassley asked Noem about steps to protect against potential sleeper cells and terrorism amid the US-Israel war against Iran. Noem did not elaborate, but said her department is looking more closely at the social media activity and interviews of immigrants who have previously entered the United States.

“We work every day to find them and to prevent the next attack,” said Noem, the former governor of South Dakota.

Trump’s immigration policy, once an area of ​​strength, could now be a stumbling block for Republicans trying to retain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. A February Reuters/Ipsos poll found that while most Americans support deporting undocumented immigrants, about 60 percent think immigration agents have gone too far.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who is not running for re-election in November, sharply criticized Naomi’s handling of immigration arrests, saying her swift conviction of Good and Pretti undermined faith in law enforcement.

“We’re starting to trick the American people into thinking that deporting people is wrong. It’s just the opposite,” Tillis said. “The way you intend to deport them is wrong.”

Noem is scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.