1. United States
2. Alaska
3. Letter

I’m writing with deep concern about recent comments made by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem during a Senate committee hearing on the DHS budget. When asked to define “habeas corpus,” she shockingly responded that it is “a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country.” That is not only incorrect—it’s dangerous. As you know, habeas corpus is a core constitutional protection that ensures the government cannot detain people—including U.S. citizens—without publicly justifying the imprisonment. It is a foundational safeguard against tyranny and the defining mark of a free society. Secretary Noem’s assertion that the president can suspend habeas corpus contradicts Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, which gives that authority to Congress, and only in cases of rebellion or invasion. Her suggestion—echoing statements by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller—signals an alarming willingness to bypass due process and consolidate power in the executive branch. I urge you to speak out clearly and forcefully against any move to suspend habeas corpus, especially by executive fiat. Congress must not remain silent while the administration erodes the rule of law and slides towards authoritarianism. We need your voice now more than ever to uphold the Constitution and protect civil liberties for all.