Pasadena Rep. Chu Joins Effort to Impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem

Rep. Judy Chu has joined more than 70 House Democrats in cosponsoring articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Pasadena congresswoman’s office.

The impeachment effort, led by Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois, accuses Noem of obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. The articles were filed one week after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis on January 7.

Chu, who represents California’s 28th Congressional District including Pasadena and Altadena, said in the statement that under Noem’s leadership ICE has operated without accountability. The congresswoman has been directly involved in immigration cases affecting her constituents, including successful interventions for residents detained by federal agents.

Last month, Chu intervened to help secure the release of Masuma Khan, a 64-year-old Altadena resident who was detained during a routine immigration check-in despite nearly 30 years in the United States. A federal judge ordered Khan’s release on November 5.

Chu also advocated for Rami Othmane, a Pasadena resident from Tunisia who was detained in July while suffering from a brain tumor. Othmane’s wife is the chief of medical staff at Huntington Hospital.

Beyond individual cases, Chu has introduced H.R. 4667, the VISIBLE Act, which would require immigration enforcement officers to display visible identification during public enforcement actions.

Following the deaths of Ismael Ayala-Uribe and Gabriel Garcia-Aviles at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, Chu and Rep. Dave Min led 43 members of Congress in a letter to DHS demanding accountability for what they described as failures to meet basic medical standards.

The three articles of impeachment allege that Noem obstructed congressional oversight by denying lawmakers access to ICE facilities, violated public trust through enforcement actions that allegedly denied due process, and engaged in self-dealing by awarding contracts to a firm run by the husband of a senior DHS official, according to the resolution.

Republicans control both chambers of Congress.

Chu’s District office is located at 527 South Lake Avenue in Pasadena.