Trump Removes Kristi Noem From Minneapolis ICE Response, Taps Longtime Rival to Lead Effort After Deadly Shooting Scandal

Donald Trump has abruptly removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from operational control of the federal immigration enforcement response in Minneapolis and dispatched his long-standing rival, Tom Homan, to take command amid escalating violence and political turmoil over fatal shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol officers.

President Trump's decision this morning reflects a dramatic shift in the White House's handling of what has become one of the most controversial episodes of his second presidency, as public outrage and legal pushback grow after multiple federal agents shot civilians in the city's streets. Federal courts have been drawn into fierce disputes over evidence preservation and constitutional authority. Local leaders, state officials, and activists are demanding answers about the role of ICE in the shootings as Minneapolis teeters on the brink of broader civil confrontation. This realignment of federal leadership underscores deep fractures within Trump's immigration enforcement strategy, exposing political fault-lines and legal jeopardy that could have lasting implications for national policy.

Trump's appointment of Homan, a veteran immigration hard-liner and former acting ICE director, supersedes Noem's de facto operational leadership of the so-called Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, a sweeping federal immigration enforcement effort that has seen thousands of agents deployed across Minnesota. The pivot comes after the controversial fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, by federal agents, which ignited protests and legal battles questioning the legitimacy and conduct of federal law enforcement in a civilian urban setting.

Noem, already under fire from both sides of the aisle, faced intensifying calls for her removal from office, while Homan's elevation signals Trump's desire to tighten internal discipline and refocus the federal response. The episode has rapidly transcended local debate, becoming a flashpoint in national disputes over immigration, federalism, and civil liberties.

Trump's Strategic Shift In Minneapolis Enforcement

Federal intervention in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, framed as a massive immigration crackdown under Operation Metro Surge, has evolved into a major political and legal crisis for the Trump administration. The operation, launched in late 2025 and continuing into early 2026, has deployed roughly 3,000 federal agents, including ICE and Customs and Border Protection personnel. Its ostensible goal is to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants and dismantle criminal networks, though court filings and local challenges paint a more fraught picture of enforcement tactics and community backlash.

On 24 January 2026, U.S. immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in south Minneapolis during a confrontation that followed protests against federal enforcement activity. Video verified by Reuters shows Pretti holding a mobile phone, not a weapon, when Border Patrol agents pepper-sprayed and pinned him before an agent fired multiple shots. The Department of Homeland Security insisted the agent acted in self-defence against a threat, but local leaders and activists rejected that account, prompting widespread protests.

The killing of Pretti followed the 7 January fatal shooting of Renée Good, also by an ICE agent. DHS and Noem labelled Good's actions as an attempted vehicular attack or 'domestic terrorism,' an assertion disputed by video evidence and local officials who saw no clear evidence she posed a threat. These contrasting narratives have intensified scrutiny over federal narrative control and oversight of ICE, undermining Noem's credibility among some lawmakers and civil liberties advocates.

Trump's decision to replace Noem's operational leadership with Homan, who reports directly to the president, is widely understood as both a tactical effort to stabilise the federal response and a political rebuke to Noem at a time when her standing is under strain. Homan's deep roots in immigration enforcement and close alignment with Trump's hard-line positions make him the administration's choice to 'manage ICE operations on the ground,' according to Trump's statements on social media.

Tom Homan: Hardened Enforcer Amid Escalating Backlash

Tom Homan's elevation is significant given his long history as an immigration hard-liner and his earlier tenure as acting director of ICE. In prior federal roles, he cultivated a reputation for aggressive enforcement and controversial public remarks about constitutional rights and immigration advocacy, emphasising strict compliance over collaborative policing.

In recent televised and recorded interviews, Homan has defended ICE's conduct in Minneapolis, asserting agents acted with justified force and urging critics to reduce 'rhetoric' around federal enforcement, which he said could inflame tensions further. In one interview clip, Homan maintained that critics unfairly portray ICE actions without understanding the risks facing federal law enforcement officers, stressing that agents fear for their lives in hostile environments.

For his critics, Homan's record raises concerns about accountability. Local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have vocally opposed the operation, with Walz announcing preparations to deploy the Minnesota National Guard and urging federal agents to stand down. National political figures, from Democratic lawmakers calling for Noem's impeachment to business and civil rights leaders joining protests, reflect how deeply the Minneapolis crisis has resonated beyond state borders.

Homan's presence is also expected to shape how evidence and investigations are handled. A federal judge recently granted a temporary restraining order barring the Department of Homeland Security from altering or destroying evidence tied to the Pretti shooting, underscoring legal tensions between federal authorities and state entities seeking transparency and accountability.

Legal, Political And Public Consequences

The fallout from these developments extends into federal courts and Capitol Hill. Minnesota officials and advocacy groups have initiated lawsuits challenging the federal operation's legality, alleging constitutional violations and overreach. Judges are weighing motions to constrain the surge and ensure local investigatory access.

Congressional pressure is escalating as well. A growing number of Senate Democrats are threatening to block Department of Homeland Security funding unless reforms are enacted or oversight hearings occur, a strategy that could trigger a partial government shutdown if negotiations fail. Calls for Noem and Homan to testify before oversight committees add to the mounting legislative scrutiny.

The decision to replace Noem with Homan may stabilise the immediate command structure of the federal response, but it also deepens questions about accountability, civil liberties, and the proper scope of immigration enforcement in urban America. With federal judges, state leaders, and national lawmakers now deeply engaged, the unfolding Minneapolis crisis could shape immigration policy and enforcement culture across the United States for years to come.

The appointment of Tom Homan to replace Kristi Noem in Minneapolis marks a pivotal moment in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement strategy and intensifying national debate over federal power, policing, and civil rights.