Listen to the article
Republican Senators Call for DHS Secretary Noem’s Resignation Following Fatal Minnesota Shootings
A growing rift within Republican ranks emerged this week as Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina broke with their party to demand Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem step down or be removed from office. Their calls follow two fatal shootings during immigration operations in Minneapolis that have sparked nationwide controversy.
The senators’ stance aligns them with several Democratic colleagues who have been calling for accountability in the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good during DHS immigration enforcement actions. The incident has intensified an already heated debate over immigration policy and enforcement tactics.
“I think the President needs to look at who he has in place as the Secretary of Homeland Security,” said Murkowski, who had previously voted for Noem’s confirmation. “I would not support her again, and I think it probably is time for her to step down.”
Tillis took a more direct approach, stating “100%” when asked if Noem should be removed, though he stopped short of supporting impeachment. “I’m not going to get into impeachment,” Tillis said. “I think it should be a management decision. She needs to go.”
The controversy has particularly centered on Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller labeling Pretti a “domestic terrorist” before a full investigation was conducted. Tillis characterized this as “amateur hour at its worst” and suggested such actions are undermining potential bipartisan progress on immigration reform.
“People like Noem are squandering” Trump’s ability to codify immigration policy, Tillis argued. “I don’t know if it’s lost yet, but if it is an opportunity lost, I put it squarely on the shoulders of people like Noem and Stephen Miller.”
President Donald Trump has stood firmly behind his DHS Secretary. When questioned by reporters outside the White House about whether Noem would resign, Trump responded with a definitive “no” and defended her performance.
“The border is totally secure,” Trump told reporters. “You forget, we had a border that I inherited where millions of people were coming through. Now, we have a border where no one is coming through.”
The controversy comes at a particularly delicate time as Senate Democrats are threatening to shut down the government over DHS funding. The deaths in Minneapolis have intensified Democratic opposition to the current DHS funding bill, creating a potential funding crisis.
Murkowski emphasized that accountability for the Minnesota incidents extends to the highest levels of leadership. “I think you have a secretary right now who needs to be accountable to the chaos and some of the tragedy that we have seen,” she said.
This is not the first time either Murkowski or Tillis has broken with the Trump administration. Both senators have histories of criticizing Trump officials when they believe poor policy advice has been given to the president. Their stance on Noem represents a significant intra-party challenge during a contentious policy debate.
The calls for Noem’s removal highlight growing tensions within the Republican party over immigration enforcement tactics and raise questions about the administration’s approach to border security. As pressure mounts from both sides of the aisle, the situation threatens to further complicate ongoing budget negotiations and immigration policy discussions.
DHS has not yet responded to requests for comment on the senators’ statements.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
9 Comments
This is certainly a concerning incident that deserves thorough investigation. As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem would be responsible for overseeing immigration enforcement operations, so the senators’ calls for her resignation are understandable. However, I’d hesitate to rush to judgment without more details on what exactly happened in Minneapolis.
I agree, we need to understand the full context before deciding if Noem should be held accountable. Immigration policy is a complex and divisive issue, so emotions are running high on all sides.
The mining and energy industries will be closely following this political drama, as Noem’s leadership at DHS could impact a range of issues from immigration to permitting for critical infrastructure projects. Her potential resignation would signal a shift in the administration’s policy approach in these areas.
While the details around the Minneapolis shootings are still emerging, the calls for Noem’s resignation by Republican senators are noteworthy. Her handling of immigration enforcement operations could have ramifications for the mining and energy sectors, so this is certainly a development worth tracking closely.
The mining and energy sectors will be closely monitoring this situation, as Noem’s leadership at DHS could impact a range of issues from immigration to infrastructure permitting. Her resignation would likely signal a shift in the administration’s policy approach in these areas.
That’s a fair assessment. Stability and continuity in federal agencies is important for industries that rely on predictable regulatory environments. This controversy could create uncertainty until a new DHS leadership team is in place.
The mining and energy sectors will be closely watching this political fallout, as it could impact key policy decisions around immigration, border security, and the role of federal agencies like DHS. Noem’s resignation could signal a shift in the administration’s approach on these issues.
That’s a good point. Stability and consistency in leadership at agencies like DHS is important for industries that rely on predictable policies and enforcement. This controversy could create uncertainty.
I’m curious to hear more about the specific circumstances of the Minneapolis shootings and whether there are any connections to Noem’s oversight of DHS. Were proper protocols followed, or were there potential lapses that contributed to the tragic outcomes? Transparency will be key in this case.