Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing internal review within the Trump administration after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, though sources indicate she is unlikely to be removed from her position.
Noem visited the White House on Monday to answer questions regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s handling of the incident and the broader response. Moving forward, her attention is expected to shift from interior immigration enforcement to securing the southern border and other departmental priorities.
Noem, along with aide Corey Lewandowski, had appointed Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino to oversee highly publicized immigration raids in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis. This shift represented a notable change in approach, as interior immigration enforcement has historically been handled by ICE rather than Border Patrol.
Bovino, who reported directly to Noem under a new “commander” title, created internal tensions at DHS. Some officials supported his aggressive approach, while others believed it undermined public support for the administration’s deportation efforts. Following Pretti’s shooting and subsequent backlash, Bovino will return to his regular role along the U.S.-Mexico border in California’s El Centro sector, partly due to serious threats against him in Minnesota.
White House border czar Tom Homan, with whom Noem reportedly has a strained relationship, is now leading the Minneapolis operation. Officials hope Homan can work collaboratively with local Democrats, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. The White House emphasized Homan’s qualifications and support from President Trump.
Noem and Bovino have faced scrutiny for their initial public statements about Pretti’s death. Noem claimed Pretti “approached” agents with a gun and “violently resisted,” while Bovino suggested he attempted to “massacre law enforcement.” However, video evidence does not show Pretti brandishing a firearm, and one clip appears to show an officer removing a gun from his waistband shortly before the first shot was fired.
Their statements have drawn criticism from congressional Republicans for prematurely assigning blame and from DHS officials for undermining credibility. One anonymous DHS official warned that public misstatements could damage the department’s reputation for years.
Amid the controversy, additional congressional Democrats have co-sponsored legislation seeking Noem’s impeachment. Pretti’s death occurred during a two-month surge of roughly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, which led to about 3,400 arrests and sparked protests.
A recent CBS News poll found that 61% of Americans believe ICE is being too aggressive in enforcement actions—a five-point increase since November—while approval of the Trump administration’s deportation program has fallen to 46% from 51%.