Alex Pretti's Death During ICE Raid Puts Kristi Noem and Close Adviser Corey Lewandowski Under Fire

The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen killed during an ICE-linked Border Patrol operation in Minneapolis, is rapidly becoming a defining crisis for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her close political adviser Corey Lewandowski.

As video evidence contradicts early official claims and public anger escalates nationwide, pressure is mounting inside the Trump administration over how the operation was authorised, managed, and publicly defended.

Multiple sources familiar with internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) discussions say senior officials are questioning both Noem's oversight and Lewandowski's influence as the fallout deepens.

In a dramatic escalation on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, President Donald Trump effectively sidelined Noem's department by appointing 'Border Czar' Tom Homan to take direct command of operations in Minnesota.

The move follows the immediate demotion of Border Patrol 'commander at large' Gregory Bovino, a key Noem ally who had initially defended the agents involved in the 24 January killing. Sources close to the White House suggest that Noem and Lewandowski, who were Bovino's most vocal backers, are now facing the 'highest stakes' of their tenure as the administration attempts to contain the political fallout from two civilian deaths in Minneapolis this month.

Kristi Noem, Corey Lewandowski Could Lose Their Jobs

According to The Atlantic, two people with direct knowledge of internal DHS discussions said Noem and Lewandowski are at risk of losing their jobs following Pretti's death. The sources said both had strongly backed Gregory Bovino. The removal of Bovino from his national role serves as the first major consequence of the Minneapolis tragedy.

Pretti was killed during protests against federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, where ICE and Border Patrol agents had been deployed in force. Bovino defended the agents publicly within hours of the incident and claimed Pretti had intended to 'massacre' officers and said agents were the real victims.

Video footage later contradicted those claims. The footage showed that Pretti did not draw his weapon and was disarmed by one agent moments before being shot in the back by another. Despite this, DHS amplified Bovino's account through official social media channels, placing senior leadership under further scrutiny.

Critics inside and outside government argue that Noem's oversight and Lewandowski's influence contributed to aggressive tactics and highly charged public messaging. Those tactics have also been linked to another fatal ICE-related shooting in Minneapolis earlier in the month, further intensifying political pressure.

Border Patrol Official Demoted

Speculation around Noem and Lewandowski sharpened after Gregory Bovino was removed from his national role earlier this week. According to a DHS official and two people familiar with the decision, Bovino was reassigned to his previous post in El Centro, California, where he is expected to retire soon.

Bovino had spent seven months acting as the public face of a roaming immigration crackdown in cities led by Democrats, including Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Minneapolis. He frequently held press briefings, defended forceful enforcement tactics, and openly criticised local officials and protesters.

Senior ICE and CBP officials had grown increasingly uneasy with his approach. They raised concerns that he was operating outside the usual chain of command and acting as a political figure rather than a law enforcement official. His removal is seen by insiders as the first tangible response to the fallout from Pretti's killing.

Noem's Emergency Meeting With Trump

As criticism mounted, Donald Trump met Noem and Lewandowski in the Oval Office for nearly two hours on Monday night. The meeting came after Bovino's demotion and amid growing backlash over the two deadly ICE-related shootings in Minneapolis, including Pretti's death.

The meeting was requested by Noem, according to people briefed on the discussions. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Communications Director Steven Cheung were also present.

Leavitt later said Trump still had 'utmost confidence and trust' in Noem. However, Trump announced a shift in operations by placing border enforcement veteran Tom Homan in direct command in Minnesota. Homan will now report directly to the president, a move that effectively sidelines Noem from day-to-day control of the response.

Trump also held calls with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, signalling an effort to calm tensions.

As investigations continue, Pretti's death is no longer viewed internally as an isolated tragedy. It is now seen as a test of accountability at the highest levels of federal law enforcement leadership and one that may yet claim political casualties.