Calls intensify for Noem’s removal as backlash grows over Minneapolis shootings tied to immigration enforcement
Pressure on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem escalated after two fatal shootings in Minneapolis linked to a federal immigration enforcement operation, with Democratic leaders warning they will move to impeach her if she is not fired.
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Democrats escalate threat after fatal incidents
On January 27–28, 2026, political pressure on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem intensified following the killing of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, during an encounter with federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. The incident, coming after another fatal shooting tied to the same enforcement push, triggered a new round of demands that Noem resign or be removed.
House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar issued an ultimatum: if President Donald Trump does not fire Noem, they will commence impeachment proceedings in the House. Their statements cast the killings as a consequence of an aggressive enforcement posture and argued that federal resources were being misused in ways that endanger Americans.
Republican criticism adds to the mounting scrutiny
The controversy also drew sharper questions from some Republicans, adding to the sense that Noem’s position has become politically volatile. While Trump publicly defended his DHS secretary, criticism from across the political spectrum increased the likelihood of congressional hearings and broader oversight of DHS tactics.
Beyond the personnel fight, the episode has become entangled with legislative brinkmanship in Washington. Democrats in the Senate have signaled they could oppose a spending package that includes major DHS funding, raising the risk of a partial government shutdown if leaders cannot separate agency financing from disputes over enforcement policy and accountability.
What happens next
In the near term, the political trajectory depends on whether Trump stands by Noem, whether congressional leaders can sustain impeachment momentum, and whether further disclosures emerge about the circumstances of the shootings. The larger issue—how immigration enforcement is carried out in major U.S. cities—appears set to remain a central national debate heading into February.