~ Watch Senator Hirono’s Questions Here ~
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on the Department’s excessive use of force and repeated lies to the American people during a full committee hearing.
“We’ve all seen pictures and videos of ICE agents ripping people out of their cars, shooting them with pepper balls, or worse, murdering people in the street. This is not normal,” said Senator Hirono. “None of this is normal, but it’s what communities being targeted by ICE are forced to face every day under this regime.”
Senator Hirono raised alarms about how the Department’s failure to follow the law and consistent inability to admit the truth directly threatens the American public. She shared the stories of American citizens violently accosted by ICE including Marimar Martinez, Reverend David Black, and Alex Pretti—each of whom were falsely called “domestic terrorists” or “agitators” prior to any investigation. Hirono recounted that in each case, there was no evidence of terrorism and proved each victims’ innocence. When asked, Secretary Noem failed to acknowledge that her department spread lies.
“The lies that you and this regime spread are creating a culture that fosters abuse of power. This is the reason we need clear guardrails on DHS,” said Senator Hirono.
Senator Hirono emphasized that DHS should meet the same standards as local police. She demanded that ICE agents remove their masks, end warrantless searches, and stop patrolling communities.
“Mr. Chairman, I am done with this witness,” concluded Senator Hirono.
Senator Hirono has consistently fought back against the Trump Administration’s draconian immigration policies on behalf of immigrant communities in Hawaii and across the country. Last year she reintroduced the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025, legislation to provide unaccompanied children with legal representation for their court when they appear in proceedings before an immigration judge. She also reintroduced the Reuniting Families Act of 2025, legislation to strengthen protections for immigrant families and address long-standing problems in a family immigration system that hasn’t seen meaningful reform in more than three decades. She also cosponsored the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act, legislation to reverse provisions in the Republican tax law (the “Big Ugly Bill”) that harm unaccompanied children who are seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries. Last year, Senator Hirono also cosponsored the Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act, legislation to prevent inexperienced temporary immigration judge appointments in light of the Trump administration’s abuse of loopholes in current regulations.
###