On Thursday, December 11, 2025, two demonstrators briefly interrupted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as she began remarks before the House Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill. One protester shouted lines associated with the 1973 film The Exorcist while holding signs demanding an end to ICE raids; a second displayed a poster reading “No ICE, no troops!” and called for immigration enforcement to stop. Capitol Police removed both individuals quickly, and Noem continued, thanking her family and defending the administration’s immigration actions. The disruption occurred amid intensifying Democratic calls for Noem’s resignation over the federal immigration enforcement strategy and fresh reports of expanded deportation logistics.
Key takeaways
- Incident date and location: December 11, 2025, at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Capitol Hill.
- Protests: Two demonstrators interrupted Secretary Noem; one shouted “The power of Christ compels you!” while holding “Stop ICE raids” and “Codepink” signage.
- Security response: Capitol Police escorted both protesters from the hearing room within minutes, ending the disruptions.
- Political fallout: Rep. Bennie Thompson publicly urged Noem to resign during the session, accusing the administration of corruption and lawlessness.
- Policy context: The Department of Homeland Security confirmed a contract to acquire six Boeing 737 aircraft for deportation use earlier this week.
- Public concern: Demonstrations come amid reports of aggressive enforcement tactics in U.S. cities, including use of flash-bang devices, armored vehicles and claims about tracking devices.
- Noem’s stance: She defended the administration’s work to make communities safer and noted she was privileged to have family at the hearing.
Background
The hearing took place against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny over federal immigration enforcement. House Democrats have escalated criticism of the Trump administration’s nationwide immigration operations, emphasizing reports of forceful tactics in major cities and raising questions about oversight and legal boundaries. The controversy has been amplified by new logistics moves: the Department of Homeland Security announced a contract this week to buy six Boeing 737 aircraft, which officials say are intended to support deportation flights.
Public protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and related federal actions have grown more visible in recent months, with a range of advocacy groups staging demonstrations in courthouse precincts, outside detention facilities and at congressional hearings. Groups such as Codepink and other grassroots networks have framed their objections around civil-rights, immigrant-rights and anti-militarization arguments. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have responded with sharper rhetoric, turning hearings into focal points for broader debates about policy, procedure and accountability.
Main event
As Secretary Noem began her opening statement, the first protester stood and shouted, invoking the phrase from The Exorcist while displaying a placard that read “Stop ICE raids” and the word “Codepink.” Capitol Police quickly intervened and led the individual from the chamber. Noem remained composed and did not respond vocally during the interruption, later resuming her remarks after order was restored.
Minutes later, a second person rose and held a poster reading “No ICE, no troops!” before shouting for ICE to leave neighborhoods and to cease actions perceived as terrorizing immigrant communities. Security again removed the individual without further escalation. The hearing continued with pointed exchanges between Noem and committee members, particularly Democrats who raised concerns about enforcement methods and recent procurement steps.
Rep. Bennie Thompson — the committee’s top Democrat — used his time to demand Noem’s resignation, accusing her office of enabling unlawful practices and mismanagement. Noem rebutted those accusations on the record, defending the administration’s enforcement priorities and emphasizing safety as the stated objective. Committee questioning then shifted into procedural and substantive queries about operational oversight, use-of-force rules and logistics for mass removals.
Analysis & implications
The brief disruptions are emblematic of growing public frustration over immigration enforcement tactics and the politicization of oversight hearings. Demonstrators plugging cultural references into protests can draw media attention, complicating the message for both activists and policymakers; in this case, the use of The Exorcist line created a vivid visual that the media amplified. For lawmakers, such interruptions highlight the difficulty of separating policy scrutiny from performative confrontation in committee settings.
Substantively, the DHS contract to procure six Boeing 737s signals an escalation in logistical capacity for large-scale deportation operations. Whether those planes will materially change enforcement outcomes depends on operational planning, legal constraints, and court challenges. Procurement alone does not equate to immediate increases in removals, but it does indicate planning for larger-scale movement of people if political directives and budgets align.
Politically, calls for Noem’s resignation could deepen partisan divides at a moment when the administration seeks to implement aggressive immigration objectives. If Democrats sustain investigations or the committee pursues subpoenas, oversight could intensify and create new legal and reputational pressures. Conversely, the administration may double down on messaging about border security and public safety to shore up support among its base.
Comparison & data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| DHS aircraft contract (Dec 2025) | Purchase of six Boeing 737s confirmed by DHS |
| Demonstration method | Two courtroom interruptions invoking cultural reference and anti-ICE slogans |
The table summarizes the concrete procurement announcement and the nature of the hearing disruptions. The procurement is a verifiable administrative action; the protests are episodic incidents that reflect broader activist tactics. Observers should distinguish between standalone demonstrations that attract attention and sustained policy changes that require legislative, budgetary or legal steps.
Reactions & quotes
“Rather than sitting here and wasting your time and ours more with more corruption, lies and lawlessness, I call on you to resign,”
Rep. Bennie Thompson (committee’s top Democrat)
Thompson’s remark framed the partisan intensity of the hearing and explicitly tied it to demands for accountability. The statement was part of prolonged questioning and is central to the Democrats’ public case for leadership change at DHS.
“The administration works each and every day to make America safe again,”
Kristi Noem (Homeland Security Secretary)
Noem used her time to assert the administration’s safety rationale, reiterating the stated goals of enforcement programs while rejecting calls for resignation during the hearing.
“Stop ICE raids!”
Protester (removed by Capitol Police)
The demonstrators’ slogans linked cultural imagery to policy demands, underscoring how activists deploy symbolic language to amplify opposition to enforcement tactics.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the protesters were formally affiliated with Codepink or acted independently is not confirmed; signage included the group’s name but membership has not been verified.
- The extent and legality of using smartwatches or similar devices to track pregnant immigrants in labor remain contested and require additional documentary evidence and official confirmation.
- Allegations about routine use of military-grade hardware in all targeted cities vary by locale; specific deployments and rules of engagement need case-by-case verification.
Bottom line
The Capitol Hill interruptions were brief but symbolically potent, combining theatrical protest tactics with pointed policy grievances. They underscore how immigration enforcement has become not only a policy dispute but a staged battleground where activists, officials and lawmakers contest narratives as much as procedures.
Beyond the immediate spectacle, the more consequential development is administrative: DHS’s confirmed contract for six Boeing 737s and continued reports of aggressive enforcement tactics raise questions about scale, oversight and legal constraints. Expect heightened congressional scrutiny, possible investigative steps from Democrats, and continuing public protests as the debate over deportation policy intensifies.
Sources
- The Guardian (media report of hearing and protest)
- Department of Homeland Security (official website; procurement and agency information)
- Codepink (advocacy organization website)
- House Committee on Homeland Security (official congressional committee site)