Kristi Noem responds to calls for firing as she addresses clip of Alex Pretti spitting at ICE agents

WASHINGTON, DC: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem responded to calls for her firing after two people were shot and killed by federal agents during ICE operations in Minnesota.

The deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good have drawn criticism from several prominent Democrats, including Senator John Fetterman and California Governor Gavin Newsom, and sparked public outrage. 

Kristi Noem stands firm on her stance: ‘I’m just doing my job’

Kristi Noem pushed back on Thursday, January 29, against growing criticism over the aggressive immigration crackdown in Minnesota, saying, "These radicals are attacking me, but I'm just doing my job."

She said on Fox News' 'Hannity', "I'm following the law, enforcing the laws like President Trump promised that he would do to keep people safe in this country."

In defending her stance, Noem also addressed a newly released video showing Pretti, the 37‑year‑old who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents, kicking and spitting at law enforcement days before his death, saying it reflects the hostility officers face in Minnesota.

"Clearly, there's a history there of attacking our law enforcement officers and our CBP and ICE officers. That's an example of what our officers have had to face every single day in Minneapolis and in Minnesota," the secretary remarked. 

Noem added, "Riots are attacking our officers not just when they're doing their work, but even at night at their hotels. And they haven't allowed their law enforcement to keep them safe. Even while they're off shift, they can't go to restaurants, they can't operate safely, they've had their lives threatened and their families' lives threatened."

Kristi Noem faces calls for firing

Democrats are calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s removal amid the Minnesota tragedy.

"Americans have died. She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary,” Fetterman said.

Newsom added on X (formerly Twitter), “KRISTI NOEM MUST RESIGN.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other House Democrats are threatening impeachment if Noem is not “fired immediately.”

Jeffries remarked, "Kristi Noem is a despicable, corrupt, pathological liar. If she is not terminated, we are prepared to initiate impeachment proceedings in the House.”

Surprisingly, some Republicans, including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have also called for her removal.

However, President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that Noem is doing a “very good job” securing the border and that he has no plans to ask her to step down.

Kristi Noem addresses Trump’s changes to immigration leadership in Minnesota

Noem also weighed in on Trump’s recent changes to immigration leadership in Minnesota, where a backlash has grown over federal enforcement actions.

This week, Trump replaced Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino with “border czar” Tom Homan to lead the effort on the ground. Noem told Sean Hannity she’s “grateful” Trump sent Homan, hoping he can restart talks with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and persuade them to honor federal detainers and ensure the safety of officers.

Noem said federal officials have been urging local leaders to cooperate for months and expressed optimism that Homan’s involvement could help “clean up the streets of Minneapolis.”

She also took aim at Walz and Frey, urging them to "be leaders and to change their rhetoric, because it is encouraging the kind of violence that we see on their streets today. I would encourage the governor to work with us, the mayor to work with us to get those dangerous criminals off their streets. That's all we want."