A storm is brewing inside the Department of Homeland Security as Secretary Kristi Noem faces mounting scrutiny over her handling of recent events in Minneapolis.
The controversy centers on the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, which has ignited public outrage and calls from Democrats for Noem’s resignation.
On Monday night, Noem spent two hours in a private meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, accompanied by her aide Corey Lewandowski.
The session came shortly after Trump dispatched Border Czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis in a high-profile shakeup following unrest over the shootings of both Pretti and Renee Good.
Political Pressure Mounts on Capitol Hill
Back in Washington, House Democrats wasted no time launching an investigation into Noem’s actions.
Over 140 members have now co-sponsored an impeachment resolution, citing allegations of self-dealing, obstruction of Congress, and violations of public trust.
In total, 145 of 213 Democrats in the House are backing the effort, signaling significant support for a formal inquiry.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has been vocal in her demands for Noem to resign, urging the House to take decisive action.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Rand Paul has requested top immigration officials, including Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, to testify at a February 12 hearing.
Noem is also scheduled to testify before the Senate on March 3 as part of routine oversight.
Fallout from Minneapolis Sparks Agency Shakeup
The controversy intensified after Noem publicly defended the agent who shot Pretti, controversially referring to him as a “domestic terrorist.”
Trump, however, expressed disagreement with that characterization, telling the Wall Street Journal, “I don’t like any shooting. I don’t like it.”
His stance appears to have influenced the recent shakeup, as he sent Homan to take direct control of the Minneapolis operations.
At the same time, Greg Bovino, a loyalist of Noem and Lewandowski, was removed from Minneapolis and reportedly locked out of his government social media accounts.
Bovino had been positioned as a potential replacement for current Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott, a longtime Homan ally.
The move reflects Noem’s diminishing influence within the White House and a power struggle over immigration enforcement strategy.
Clash of Strategies Inside DHS
Sources indicate a growing rift between Noem and Homan over enforcement priorities.
Homan and Lyons favor a targeted approach, focusing on deporting convicted criminals and individuals with final removal orders.
Noem, alongside Lewandowski and Bovino, has pushed for broader deportation efforts to boost daily totals, publicly celebrating statistics aimed at meeting Trump’s goal of removing up to 1,500 undocumented immigrants per day.
The divide has become more pronounced as rank-and-file ICE agents increasingly side with Homan’s hardline enforcement style over Noem’s public-facing, politically sensitive approach.
Despite the tensions, DHS officials emphasized that Bovino remains an important member of the team, with Noem herself praising Homan’s contributions to fraud investigations and public safety initiatives in Minneapolis.
Controversial Operations Draw Fire Nationwide
Bovino, a Border Patrol veteran of 30 years, has led several high-profile federal immigration crackdowns in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, and Minneapolis.
While these operations have been lauded by some for enforcing immigration laws, they have drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates, and congressional Democrats due to the public unrest they sparked.
The unfolding drama highlights a deeper struggle within DHS over leadership, strategy, and political optics, with Noem’s approach under intense examination from both Congress and the public.
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