ICE arrested 118 undocumented immigrants in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties in December, according to a Department of Homeland Security press release. DHS claims these individuals included pedophiles, registered sex offenders, burglars, domestic abusers and serial drunk drivers.
Now, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, who represents the southern part of San Luis Obispo County, is calling for the impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, according to a press release from Carbajal’s office.
“Secretary Noem has continuously directed her department to violate individuals’ constitutional rights,” Carbajal said. “The Secretary of Homeland Security is charged with protecting the American people and upholding the rule of law, yet under Noem’s tenure, our nation has become less safe and more lawless.”
Noem is in charge of DHS under President Donald Trump and oversees ICE and Customs and Border Protection. Carbajal believes Noem has repeatedly betrayed her oath of office. Carbajal, who is also the top Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, is working with colleagues to hold Noem accountable with impeachment proceedings, according to the press release.
Robin Kelly, a U.S. Rep. from Illinois, introduced an impeachment resolution against Noem on Jan. 14, accusing her of directing warrantless arrests, using excessive force against U.S. citizens and blocking congressional oversight of detention facilities, according to the resolution.
This is a preliminary action and the Judiciary Committee would need to hold a hearing and investigate the claims in the resolution. If the committee approves the resolution, the House would have to approve, and finally the Senate would have to vote in a two-thirds majority to remove Noem from office, as detailed in the Constitution.
DHS hones in on California
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said federal law enforcement will continue to “make California safe again” in the DHS release.
“ICE ended 2025 with a surge operation in California targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” McLaughlin said in the DHS release. “Criminal illegal aliens flock to California because they know Gov. Newsom and his fellow sanctuary politicians will allow them to terrorize innocent American families.”
Newsom posted he believes Noem should resign shortly after DHS announced the ICE raids and the fatal Minnesota ICE shooting.
“Kristi Noem should resign — before more Americans are killed. She needs to be held to account,” Gavin Newsom posted on X shorts after the DHS release was posted.
Recent DHS presence in San Luis Obispo County
Noem and DHS impacted San Luis Obispo County through the presence of ICE and Customs and Border protection since Trump entered office.
In September, the 805 Immigrant Coalition suggested that individuals avoid the San Luis Obispo County Jail due to potential ICE presence, and three individuals were apprehended in October outside of the county jail, according to previous Mustang News coverage.
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In November, Cal Poly issued a five-step list to faculty and staff, including staying calm, in response to potential ICE presence, according to previous Mustang News coverage. Customs and Border Protection planned to recruit at the Cal Poly Career Fair in October but did not due to the government shutdown, according to previous Mustang News coverage.