U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem ignited a firestorm this week with a social media tirade accusing immigrants in Minneapolis of causing terror, but her message was quickly overshadowed by a public spelling blunder and challenged statistics.
A Heated Social Media Accusation
In a post on the platform X on Monday, the GOP official launched a fierce attack. Noem asserted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had "arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans" and "hurting children." She directly accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, of failing to protect their citizens by shielding criminals instead.
However, in her haste, Noem made a conspicuous error. She claimed immigrants were "reigning terror in Minneapolis," seemingly confusing the word "reigning" (to rule) with "raining," as in causing a downpour of destruction. The gaffe was swiftly noted by critics and commentators online.
Disputed Statistics and a Tense TV Exchange
This spelling stumble followed a contentious appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation" the previous day, where Noem's grasp on her own department's data was called into question. During an interview with Margaret Brennan, Noem insisted that 70% of immigrants taken into ICE custody had charges or convictions for violent crimes.
When Brennan interjected to correct her, stating, "It's not 70%," Noem argued back forcefully, claiming, "Yes, it is. It absolutely is." She then accused CBS of selectively choosing numbers. Brennan countered, citing the agency's own figures which show 47% have criminal convictions. Noem simply dismissed the correction, saying Brennan was "wrong again."
Context of Crackdown and Community Unrest
Noem's online remarks came with an announcement that more ICE agents would be deployed to Minneapolis, as part of the Trump administration's broader immigration enforcement push. This escalation occurs against a backdrop of local tension.
The city has seen ongoing protests following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE officer identified as Jonathan Ross during an operation earlier this month. Noem's post, which also celebrated the arrest of 3,000 criminal illegal aliens in six weeks—including individuals accused of murder, rape, and child predation—was framed as a public safety victory but has further inflamed community sentiments.
The series of events highlights how heated rhetoric on the complex issue of immigration can be quickly undermined by simple errors and factual disputes, shifting the focus from policy claims to the credibility of the messenger.
