Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, has robustly responded to escalating demands for her resignation by asserting she is being unfairly targeted by 'radicals'. This follows the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, by federal agents in Minneapolis, which has ignited a political firestorm.
Noem's Defence and Trump's Backing
In an interview with Fox News, Noem declared, 'These radicals are attacking me, but I'm just doing my job. I'm following the law, enforcing the laws like President Trump promised that he would do to keep people safe in this country.' Her comments came hours after she sat silently through a Trump Cabinet meeting, where the president reorganised his strategy for removing criminals from the streets of America's largest cities.
President Trump has thrown his weight behind Noem, labelling Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski as 'losers' for urging her to step down. Despite this support, a recent Daily Mail/JL Partners poll reveals Noem's approval rating has plummeted to a dismal 33 percent, indicating significant public discontent.
Pretti Incident and Border Patrol Dynamics
Noem addressed newly released footage showing Alex Pretti antagonising ICE agents in Minneapolis just eleven days before he was fatally shot by Border Patrol officers. She stated, 'Clearly, there's a history there of attacking our law enforcement officers and our CBP and ICE officers. That's an example of what our officers have had to face every single day in Minneapolis and in Minnesota.'
While Noem suggested Pretti's actions impeded immigration officers' duties, she also called for an investigation into his death, remarking, 'We believe that we can always do better, and we seek to do that every single day. And we want to make sure that we not only improve protocols on the ground in chaotic and volatile situations like this, but that we continue to find the truth around this situation.'
Internal Power Struggles and Policy Shifts
Noem praised President Trump's decision to deploy Tom Homan, the border czar, to Minneapolis, expressing hope he could engage with liberal leaders like Governor Walz and Mayor Frey. 'I'm grateful that the president had the wisdom to send Tom Homan there to have conversations again to see if he can get the leaders to commit to honoring our detainers and to keeping our officers safe while they do their work,' she said.
However, this move underscores a deepening power struggle within Trump's immigration apparatus. Sources indicate Homan advocates for aggressive, enforcement-first mass deportations, viewing Noem as overly political and slow. In contrast, Noem favours a broader approach to boost daily deportation numbers, aiming to meet Trump's target of removing up to 1,500 illegal immigrants per day.
Border Patrol Commander's Departure
Meanwhile, Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino broke his silence after leaving Minneapolis, with many interpreting his exit as a demotion. From Mount Rushmore, approximately 600 miles west of Minneapolis, Bovino filmed a video to support federal law enforcement officers, calling them 'the mean green machine' and expressing pride in their 'turn and burn' deportation strategy.
Bovino, a loyalist to Noem and top aide Corey Lewandowski, has been touted as a potential replacement for current Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott, an ally of Homan. His removal from Minneapolis signals Noem's waning influence with the White House, as Trump empowers Homan to take control of ground operations.
Mounting Political Pressure
Noem faces intense scrutiny following the Pretti shooting, with over 140 Democrats co-sponsoring an impeachment bill alleging self-dealing, obstruction of Congress, and violation of public trust. A DHS spokesperson dismissed these efforts as 'silly', urging Democrats to focus on crime in their districts.
The minority party plans to investigate Noem's work at DHS without Republican assistance, according to reports. The latest poll data spells further trouble: 46 percent of respondents believe Noem should be impeached, and 42 percent think President Trump should fire her. Her disapproval rating has risen to 41 percent, up from 37 percent in December.
As the controversy unfolds, the rivalry between Noem and Homan hardens, with rank-and-file ICE agents increasingly aligning with Homan's hardline stance over Noem's public-facing approach. The situation highlights the volatile intersection of immigration policy, law enforcement actions, and political manoeuvring in the Trump administration's second term.
