Durbin and Raskin Urge DOJ Perjury Probe of Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrats on the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, have formally asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to open a criminal investigation into whether former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lied under oath in recent oversight hearings that preceded her ouster from President Trump’s Cabinet. In a detailed referral letter, they accuse Noem of making “demonstrably false” statements about a $220 million, taxpayer‑funded DHS television ad campaign that prominently features her, including falsely claiming the contract went through competitive bidding and testifying that Trump had personally approved it, a claim Trump publicly contradicted in a Reuters interview the next day. The letter also alleges Noem misled Congress about DHS and ICE compliance with federal court orders to release detainees, how long ICE detentions typically last, whether U.S. citizens have been wrongly detained, and conditions inside ICE facilities, citing a pattern of judges nationwide accusing ICE of ignoring release orders or offering misleading arguments. Durbin and Raskin acknowledge Bondi is unlikely to investigate a recent Cabinet colleague but emphasize that perjury and false‑statement charges carry five‑year statutes of limitations, signaling that a future administration could still act. The referral sharpens an already contentious fight over Trump’s mass‑deportation push, the politically charged DHS ad blitz, and what critics describe as a broader effort by the current Justice Department to shield allies while pursuing opponents.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Durbin and Raskin sent a referral letter asking DOJ to investigate Kristi Noem for possible perjury and false statements to Congress, reported March 16, 2026.
- They focus on Noem’s sworn claims that a $220 million DHS television ad campaign featuring her was competitively bid and approved by Trump, which they say is contradicted by procurement records and Trump’s subsequent denial to Reuters.
- The letter also alleges Noem misrepresented DHS and ICE compliance with court‑ordered detainee releases, detention lengths, mistaken detentions of U.S. citizens, and detention conditions.
- Noem was removed as DHS secretary one day after the contentious hearings that form the basis of the referral.
- Democrats note they have “low expectations” that Attorney General Pam Bondi will act but highlight that the five‑year statute of limitations for perjury and false statements leaves the door open for future prosecution.
đź“Š Relevant Data
Monthly detentions of Latinos without criminal records by ICE increased sixfold compared to the final year of the Biden administration in 2026.
New Analysis Reveals Sharp Rise in ICE Detention of Immigrants with No Criminal Convictions — UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Courts have ruled over 4,400 times since January 2025 that ICE has jailed immigrants illegally, often ignoring release orders.
Courts have ruled 4,400 times that ICE jailed people illegally. It hasn’t stopped. — Reuters
More than 170 U.S. citizens were detained by ICE in 2025, often at raids and protests, despite their citizenship status.
Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents Against Their Will This Year — ProPublica
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 shifted U.S. immigration from Europe to Latin America and Asia, leading to Hispanics and Asians dominating immigration flows, with new immigrants and their descendants accounting for 55% of U.S. population growth from 1965 to 2015.
Impact of immigration of U.S. population growth since 1965 — Working Immigrants
ICE detention facilities experienced significant overcrowding in 2025, leading to worsening medical care and substandard conditions, with a nearly 75% rise in detained individuals.
New Report Details ICE's Expanding and Increasingly Opaque Detention System — American Immigration Council
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