DHS’ Kristi Noem addresses mass calls for her firing, new Alex Pretti video

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem says “extremists” are targeting him as calls for his firing intensify amid an aggressive immigration crackdown in Minnesota.

“These radicals are attacking me, but I’m just doing my job. I follow the law, I follow the law as President Trump promised to keep people safe in this country,” the woman told “Hannity” on Thursday.

Noem’s comments come as she faces growing criticism following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations in the North Star State.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. and several prominent Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have recently called for her removal as DHS secretary.

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“Americans are dead. He is betraying the core mission of DHS and trashing your legacy of border security. Don’t make President Biden’s mistake of not firing a deeply incompetent DHS Secretary,” Fetterman said.

“KRISTI NOEM SHOULD RESIGN” Newsom wrote on X.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY), along with other House Democrats, are threatening impeachment proceedings if Noem is not “immediately fired.”

Additionally, Republican Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have called for Noem’s impeachment.

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But President Donald Trump maintained he had no plans to ask Noem to resign, telling reporters Tuesday that Noem was doing a “very good job” securing the border.

Noem also addressed newly released video showing Pretti, 37, kicking and spitting at federal agents just days before his death.

“Obviously, there’s a history of attacks there on our law enforcement officers, on our CBP and ICE officers,” he said.

A new video shows a man identified as Alex Pretti kicking and spitting at a law enforcement vehicle. (News Movement)

The former South Dakota governor called Pretti’s behavior emblematic of the hostile agents routinely encountered in Minnesota.

“This is an example of what our officers have to face every day in Minneapolis and Minnesota,” Noem said.

“The rioters are attacking our officers not only while they are doing their jobs, but even in their hotels at night,” he explained. “And they haven’t allowed law enforcement to keep them safe. Even when they’re off-shift, they can’t go to restaurants, they can’t operate safely, their lives are threatened, and their families’ lives are threatened.”

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Noem also commented on Trump’s change of immigration leadership in Minnesota.

Earlier this week, Trump appointed “border czar” Tom Homan to replace Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino.

“I’m grateful that the President had the wisdom to send Tom Homan there to meet again to see if Governor Walz and Mayor Frey’s leaders could commit to honoring our detainees and keeping our officers safe while doing their jobs,” he told host Sean Hannity.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino during a news conference about Operation Metro Surge, ongoing immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Star Tribune via Jerry Holt/Getty Images)

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“We’ve been asking them to do this for months,” he added. “They refused to agree. We’re hoping Tom will have the opportunity to reopen those conversations and see if we can get them to help clean up the streets of Minneapolis.”

Noem also had a message for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing both leaders of escalating tensions in the state.

“I would tell them to be leaders and change their rhetoric because it encourages the kind of violence we see on our streets today,” he said.

“I encourage the governor to work with us and the mayor to work with us to get these dangerous criminals off the streets. That’s all we’re asking for.”

Lara Trump on Friday praised red states for cooperating with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement, while Minnesota Mayor Jacob Frye and Gov. Tim Walz cited “anti-ICE sentiment.” (Getty Images)

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In defending the actions of federal agents, Noem acknowledged that law enforcement tactics should always be subject to scrutiny, citing the ongoing investigation into Pretti’s fatal shooting.

“We believe we can always do better, and we try to do that every day. In chaotic and unstable situations like this, we want to make sure that we not only improve the protocols on the field, but also continue to find the truth about this situation,” he said.