Pritzker, other Illinois Democrats react to Kristi Noem’s firing

Reactions are pouring in after Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem was ousted by President Donald Trump.

Trump made the announcement on his TruthSocial platform on Thursday, and said he would be shifting Noem to a newly created role.

“The current secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the border), will be moving to be special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at Homeland,” he said.

After Noem’s ouster, Illinois Democrats, who have been among her fiercest critics, are reacting to the news.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who crossed swords with Noem over a variety of issues surrounding Operation: Midway Surge and other immigration enforcement actions, released a video after the firing.

“Hey Kristi Noem. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” he said. “Here’s your legacy: corruption and chaos. Parents and children tear gassed. Moms and nurses, U.S. citizens, getting shot in the face. Now that you’re gone, don’t think you get to just walk away. I guarantee you, you will still be held accountable.”

Rep. Robin Kelly, a candidate for U.S. Senate who introduced articles of impeachment against Noem earlier this year, was succinct in her reaction.

“You’re fired. Good riddance, Kristi Noem,” she said, echoing Trump’s famed catchphrase from his reality TV show “The Apprentice.”

Rep. Delia Ramirez said the story cannot end with Noem’s firing.

“Good riddance! We still have to impeach her, melt ICE, and dismantle DHS,” she said.

Sen. Dick Durbin accused Noem of “repeatedly lying” to Congress, including during her recent testimony on the Hill that reportedly angered the president.

“Kristi Noem was the face of an unpopular, illegal, and outright dangerous mass deportation campaign that claimed the lives of innocent Americans and terrorized many more. Our country expressed outrage, she repeatedly lied before Congress, and even the President finally conceded she was unfit for the job,” he said.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth said Noem should have “been fired a long, long time ago,” and that Republicans need to work with Democrats to reform the department.

“Kristi Noem should’ve been fired a long, long time ago. Next, the Trump Administration needs to work with Democrats to enact the commonsense DHS reforms that the American people are crying out for,” he said.

While Illinois Republicans in Congress have yet to directly address the firing, Rep. Mary Miller said Congress will put forward a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security amid an ongoing partial government shutdown, with Democrats saying they won’t vote to pass the measure without significant changes to the way the department and ICE operate.

“Democrats face a simple choice: stand with the safety and security of the American people — or continue shielding criminal aliens and put our country at risk. Americans will be watching closely,” she said.

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