Noem Remains Steadfast Amid Anti-ICE Protests and Calls for Resignation

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem continues to face intense scrutiny amid nationwide anti-ICE protests that have triggered a government shutdown and raised questions about her future in the Trump administration. Despite mounting pressure, Noem has maintained a composed demeanor during her recent four-day tour, which included assessment of storm damage in Mississippi, border visits in Texas, Arizona and North Dakota, and a barbecue she personally hosted for Border Patrol agents.

Throughout the tour, Noem’s focus remained unwavering, even as Congress grappled with a partial government shutdown primarily centered on DHS funding. The House eventually reached an agreement to fund the agency through February 13, but the controversy surrounding Noem’s leadership persisted.

During an exclusive interview along the border wall in Nogales, Arizona, Noem emphasized the critical nature of DHS operations beyond immigration enforcement. “Every day [DHS is] finding terrorists and removing them from our country, protecting our cybersecurity systems, our critical infrastructure,” Noem told Fox News Digital. “Only 11% of the DHS budget is ICE. The rest of it is FEMA, TSA, that runs our security checkpoints at our airports.”

She further highlighted the agency’s responsibilities for the Coast Guard, weapons of mass destruction prevention, and national laboratory oversight. “We have a lot of responsibilities that we absolutely need to fund in order to do them properly,” Noem stated.

The controversy surrounding DHS funding largely centers on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), specifically its operations in Minneapolis, a designated sanctuary city where local authorities provide minimal support to federal immigration enforcement. Operation Metro Surge has reportedly resulted in the apprehension of 4,000 criminal illegal migrants in Minneapolis this year, initially targeting a fraud scheme involving members of the Somali community.

The operation escalated into violent clashes between protesters and federal officers, resulting in the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both killed by federal immigration agents. Noem’s subsequent characterization of Good and Pretti as “domestic terrorists” who died while impeding “law enforcement operations” sparked outrage from both Democrats and some Republicans, fueling calls for her resignation.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly defended Noem, stating he has no intention of removing her from her position. When asked about public expectations regarding ICE enforcement tactics that have led to riots and deaths, Noem responded, “I think people would want less conflict. [The American people] want to know that we’re enforcing our laws and that we are going after dangerous criminals, and they don’t want them to be released on the streets to perpetuate more crimes.”

Despite presidential support, public opinion remains divided. A Quinnipiac University survey conducted from January 29 to February 2 showed 58% of respondents believed Noem should be removed from her position. Critics, including some Republican insiders, have pointed to Noem’s limited national experience, suggesting her background as governor of South Dakota inadequately prepared her for one of the cabinet’s most challenging roles.

Nevertheless, the Trump administration has highlighted Noem’s border security accomplishments. According to DHS figures, more illegal migrants crossed the southern border in an average month under former President Biden than during Noem’s entire tenure. “We have over three million people that have deported, and that includes probably about 700,000 that we have detained and removed,” Noem stated. “Beyond that, over 2.3 million have self-deported.”

The administration has incentivized voluntary departure through a $2,600 payment and flight arrangements, which Noem claims millions have accepted. Trump reiterated his support for Noem at the National Prayer Breakfast, asking rhetorically, “Why would I do that? We have the strongest border in the history of our country. We have the best crime numbers we’ve ever had going back to the year 1900.”

Trump’s appointment of Tom Homan as border czar sparked speculation about potential tension between Homan and Noem, particularly after Trump put Homan in charge of the Minneapolis situation. However, Noem expressed appreciation for Homan’s efforts to engage local Minneapolis leaders in negotiations to restore order.

As protests continue and congressional scrutiny intensifies, Noem remains focused on her mission. “What people need to remember is that Democrat policies were destroying our country,” she asserted. “Since [the Biden administration], thousands of people’s lives have been saved just here, just right here on the border, because those migrants are not victimized anymore.”