The worst of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s many terrible moments in last week’s congressional hearings on immigration control probably came when she admitted to being unfamiliar with the shockingly appalling case of Marimar Martinez.

She is the Chicago woman who managed to survive being shot five times by Border Patrol agents in October, leaving her with nerve damage in her right hand.

Yet, as Noem, dubbed “ICE Barbie” by some for her love of posturing in front of media cameras, was pushed by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, to acknowledge that the shooting was “wrong” during a heated Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, ignorance was her defense.

“Sir, I don’t know that situation or the case,” Noem replied. “I’ll look into it to ensure that all procedures were followed properly….”

How likely is it that Noem had not looked into the case surrounding Martinez’ shooting last Oct. 4, especially in light of the embarrassing details that came to light as the U.S. Justice Department attempted to prosecute the victim?

Some of those details were in evidence in the Senate hearing room, including posters bearing the text messages exchanged by Martinez’ shooter, Border Patrol agent Charles Exum, bragging: “I fired 5 rounds and she had 7 holes. Put that in your book boys.”

As DHS operations inspired mass political protest, and tanked President Donald Trump’s polling numbers, Noem faithfully parroted the administration’s talking points, continually characterizing immigrants as dangerous and protesters as terrorists, and Trump stood by her.

Yet their relationship came crashing down Thursday when Trump unceremoniously fired her. Or, rather, demoted her to United States Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, whatever that is.

Noem had been caught in a lie in testifying about $220 million of taxpayer money she spent on TV advertising — some of which ended up going to a company run by the husband of her erstwhile press aide, Tricia McLaughlin. On Tuesday before the Senate Judicial Committee, she claimed the contract for the ads had been submitted for competitive bids. However, on Wednesday, in front of the House, she admitted it was a no-bid arrangement.

Worse, she claimed that Trump had blessed the affair.

Noem’s career at Homeland Security was cooked, and happiness over her imminent departure did not seem to be limited to only one party, although the usual suspects expressed loudest delight.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson noted that Noem “weaponized fear to undermine trust between communities and local law enforcement. … Kristi Noem’s tenure will be remembered by her brazen corruption, reckless exploitation of vulnerable families to advance a far-right agenda and willingness to put the president’s interests over those of the American people.”

I agree. We need good border security, not an excuse to impose a police state.

I hope that Trump’s apparent nominee to be her replacement, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullen of Oklahoma, will do a better job, if he gets confirmed.

But first leaders from both parties need to talk seriously about what is needed to protect our borders without endangering the rights and freedoms that make this country so attractive in the first place.