Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced intense scrutiny from House Democrats during a hearing on global threats, with Rep. Seth Magaziner bringing a veteran on Zoom who claimed to have been issued a removal order. The veteran, Sae Joon Park, a U.S. Army veteran and green card holder, self-deported to South Korea, despite having no criminal convictions. This incident highlights a broader pattern of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detaining tens of thousands of individuals, including U.S. citizens and military families, many with no criminal records. The controversy sparked a heated exchange, as Magaziner argued that deporting veterans and their families contradicts the public's perception of immigration policies, which Noem defended as strictly enforcing the law. The hearing also witnessed a personal attack from Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, who accused Noem of misusing homeland security funds and living in a taxpayer-owned property reserved for military leaders. Thompson's criticism extended to the Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members, questioning the DHS's role in approving asylum applications. The aftermath of the attack led to a suspension of Afghan visa processing and asylum decisions, as well as a pause in immigration applications for 19 countries. Noem's early departure from the hearing, citing a canceled meeting, sparked further controversy, with Thompson alleging that the meeting was indeed canceled and questioning Noem's respect for congressional oversight.
