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Appropriators press DHS on U.S. citizen deportations and ICE procedures
Summary
Members pressed Secretary Noem on whether DHS has deported U.S. citizens, on parental‑caregiver procedures used during removals and on whether parents were provided required ICE forms; Noem denied deporting citizens and agreed to follow up on form usage and specific cases.
House members asked Department of Homeland Security leadership whether the department has deported United States citizens and how ICE handled parents with U.S. citizen children in recent removal operations.
Ranking Member Underwood asked Secretary Noem, "Do you believe the constitution grants everyone in our country the right to due process, including noncitizens?" Noem responded that "due process is exactly what this Congress lays out." When asked whether the U.S. government has the authority to deport American citizens, Noem replied, "No. And we are not deporting US citizens."
Members pressed for details on ICE procedures and asked whether parents in removal cases were offered and completed specific ICE forms used to document caregiver arrangements and parental election regarding pre‑removal custody of U.S. citizen children (ICE Form 71‑078 and ICE Form 71‑076 were cited by a member). Noem said she did not have the form counts at hand and offered to follow up in writing; she maintained that some families "chose" to travel and that the department followed its normal policies and procedures where applicable.
Why it matters: Committee members said these are fundamental constitutional and due‑process questions with potential civil‑liberties implications; they sought a factual accounting from DHS rather than political argumentation.
Next steps: Committee members said they will request written follow‑up on whether the cited ICE forms were used in the specific cases referenced, whether parents were afforded counsel and time to consult prior to deportation, and a list of policies governing children in removal operations. DHS committed to provide written answers.
