Republican Senators Demand Homeland Security Secretary's Resignation
Two prominent Republican senators have publicly called for the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, citing her handling of recent deadly shootings involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. The lawmakers argue that Noem has demonstrated poor judgment and leadership failures that endanger both law enforcement officers and American citizens.
Senators Voice Strong Criticism
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina delivered particularly harsh criticism on Tuesday, stating that Noem has "proven that she doesn't know how to lead, how to de-escalate." He emphasized that her actions are "exposing ICE officers to dangerous situations" and "exposing U.S. citizens to deadly, deadly situations."
Tillis, who voted to confirm Noem last year, told reporters that he now believes she is "way out of her depth" and "discrediting the law enforcement officers of Homeland Security." He concluded that "she needs to get out of the DHS."
Growing Republican Dissent
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, another Republican who initially supported Noem's confirmation, joined the call for her resignation. Murkowski told reporters that "it probably is time for her to step down" and emphasized that "you have a secretary right now who needs to be accountable to the chaos and some of the tragedy that we have seen."
The criticism stems from Noem's response to two separate fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Following the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, Noem and her department initially claimed Pretti had "violently resisted" officers and that the incident appeared to be "a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement." Subsequent video evidence completely contradicted these claims.
Controversial Statements and Administration Response
The situation escalated when White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller falsely labeled Pretti an "assassin" who "tried to murder federal agents." Noem similarly attacked Renee Good, who was killed by another federal agent earlier this month, immediately calling her a "domestic terrorist" before any investigation had occurred.
Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska criticized this approach, stating it was "not helpful at all" for administration officials to use such "incendiary rhetoric" before facts were determined. She warned that "anytime people jump to conclusions, and when they don't know all the facts, you're going to see things like that take place."
Mixed Support Within Republican Ranks
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota offered only tepid support for his fellow South Dakotan, noting that Noem's future is "the president's judgment call" and that she "serves at the pleasure of the president." Thune emphasized that "the important thing is that the president's got confidence in his team."
President Donald Trump expressed continued confidence in Noem on Tuesday, telling reporters at the White House that "I think she is doing a very good job" and declaring that "the border is totally secure." However, Trump has taken action within Noem's department, reshuffling leadership by removing controversial U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino from Minnesota and dispatching border czar Tom Homan instead.
Political Fallout and Legislative Implications
The leadership changes came amid widespread outcry over the Minneapolis killings and were applauded by congressional Republicans, who have called for an independent investigation while supporting the administration's immigration enforcement policies. Democrats, however, are demanding more substantial action.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York argued that "the fix should come from Congress" because "the public can't trust the administration to do the right thing on its own." Democrats are threatening to block funding legislation that includes Department of Homeland Security appropriations unless Congress passes measures to restrain ICE and remove its substantial force from Minnesota.
Ongoing Operations Despite Political Controversy
Despite Trump's recent conciliatory tone toward Minnesota's Democratic officials, Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota reported that "nothing has changed on the ground." She noted that "we still have roving bands of ICE agents doing raids, and there's no new information."
Smith highlighted the opacity of ICE operations, stating that "what they have been doing in Minnesota and around the country is completely opaque" and that officials don't know basic details about the officers involved in the shootings or the scope of enforcement actions. She concluded that "that's one of the reasons why I think people are so angry and scared, because they don't know what's going on."
The controversy places Secretary Noem at the center of a growing political storm that pits Republican critics against presidential support while highlighting deep divisions over immigration enforcement tactics and transparency in federal operations.
