In a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Tuesday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sparked controversy after mischaracterising the constitutional principle of habeas corpus. Her comments prompted an immediate correction from Senator Maggie Hassan and ignited a flurry of online criticism.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says the constitutional provision that allows people to legally challenge their detention by the government is actually a tool the Trump administration can use in its broader crackdown at the U.