By Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner

House Democrats introduced three articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week, coming after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement-involved shooting in Minneapolis and DHS operations across the country.

Signing on to the proposed articles of impeachment was U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, who represents Colorado’s Congressional District 7, including Teller and Park counties.

Also signing on was Colorado U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette. As first reported by Axios, more than 50 Democrats signed the articles of impeachment.

In a statement to the press, Pettersen said, “Secretary Kristi Noem and (President) Donald Trump have shown a shocking disregard for human life, the rule of law, and the Constitution of this country. Just last week, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good – a mom to three kids who posed no threat to anyone. And over the summer, she took days to respond to catastrophic flooding in Texas, putting lives on the line and destroying public faith in Kristi Noem’s ability to do this job and keep us safe. That’s why I have repeatedly called for her to resign. But if she will not step aside, we must remove her from office. She is incompetent and unfit to serve, and the American people deserve accountability and leadership that respects human life, the rule of law, and who we can trust to keep us safe.”

The articles, led by Rep. Robin Kelly, D-IL, include obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. The congresswoman said Wednesday the impeachment articles have the support of close to 70 members of Congress.

Kelly accused Noem and the department of denying members of Congress from entering ICE facilities to conduct oversight, as well as allowing DHS officials to arrest people without warrants and engage in violence against citizens as the Trump administration carries out its immigration and deportation policies.

Democrats’ tipping point on Noem was the death of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The political parties have been torn over the details of the incident, sharing videos of the shooting from different vantage points.

The Trump administration and most of the GOP have defended the ICE officer’s actions, accusing Good of being a “domestic terrorist” and seeking to run over law enforcement. However, Democrats and some Republicans have accused ICE officers of “lawless” behavior and shooting an innocent woman who was trying to get away from the scene.

“Secretary Noem has called my impeachment efforts ‘silly.’ I want to tell her right now: Secretary Noem, you have violated your oath of office, and there will be consequences,” Kelly said. “I am watching you. Members of Congress are watching you. The American people, most importantly, are watching you. And most of all, we’re not liking what we’re seeing. If you believe impeachment is silly, then you are not taking your job or our Constitution seriously.”

The likelihood of impeachment is slim, given the Republican trifecta and that it requires a simple majority in the House and a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

When asked about the numbers roadblock and whether this was a framework for Democrats’ priorities should they take back the House in 2026, Kelly told reporters the articles are the “first step.”

“I just feel like we need to use every tool in our toolbox,” the Illinois congresswoman said. “If we do nothing, nothing will happen. And so just really now, trying to build on momentum, getting as many people signed on as possible.”

Colorado Politics editor Thelma Grimes contributed to this report.