Democrats call to fire Kristi Noem as pressure intensifies on the homeland security secretary following the fatal shooting of a US citizen during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, a case that has triggered impeachment threats in the House and drawn rare public criticism from senior Republicans.
The growing backlash has placed Noem at the centre of a political crisis that now threatens to destabilise the Trump administration’s immigration strategy and force a confrontation with Congress.
Senior House Democrats on Tuesday issued an ultimatum to President Donald Trump, warning that they would initiate impeachment proceedings against Noem if she is not removed from office.
Their demand follows the killing of Alex Pretti, a US citizen and veterans affairs nurse, who was shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota’s largest city.
The incident has become a defining symbol of Democratic accusations that the Department of Homeland Security has embraced excessive and unconstitutional force.
In a joint statement, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, alongside Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, said the administration had failed to rein in a department whose actions were now costing American lives.
“The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith,” the leaders said. “Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.”
They concluded with a blunt warning to the White House: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
Trump, however, initially appeared unmoved by the pressure.
Speaking earlier at the White House, the president defended Noem’s performance and dismissed calls for her removal. “I think she’s doing a very good job,” Trump told reporters, insisting that “the border is totally secure.” His comments underscored the administration’s reluctance to concede ground, even as the political fallout widened.
Despite Trump’s backing, Republicans began to break ranks, adding to the sense that Noem’s position is becoming increasingly untenable.
North Carolina senator Thom Tillis, who is retiring at the end of his term, said Noem’s conduct surrounding the Minneapolis operation “should be disqualifying”.
Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski also called for accountability, saying the homeland security secretary “needs to be accountable to the chaos and some of the tragedy that we have seen”.
Other Republican lawmakers stopped short of explicitly demanding Noem’s resignation but acknowledged that the department’s response required serious review.
Several suggested that new enforcement guidelines or a temporary pause in certain operations could be necessary while investigations continue. The public dissent is notable in a party that has largely rallied behind Trump’s hardline immigration agenda.
Democrats have moved quickly to formalise their challenge. Articles of impeachment introduced earlier this month by Illinois congresswoman Robin Kelly have gained widespread support within the House Democratic caucus.
As of Tuesday, 162 of the 213 House Democrats had signed on as co-sponsors, according to Kelly’s office. The list includes lawmakers from both safe districts and highly competitive swing seats, highlighting the depth of concern across the party.
The effort has also reshaped the funding battle on Capitol Hill. Senate Democrats have vowed to block a Department of Homeland Security funding bill because it includes money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Republicans have refused to split the measure from other government funding legislation, raising the risk of a partial shutdown if no agreement is reached before current spending authorisations expire.
Several high-profile Democratic senators have added their voices to calls for Noem’s removal. Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman, often seen as a centrist within the party, issued a direct appeal to Trump on social media, urging him to act swiftly.
“Americans have died,” Fetterman wrote. “She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy.” He warned Trump not to repeat what he described as President Joe Biden’s mistake of failing to dismiss an ineffective homeland security secretary.
Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren focused on the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death, rejecting claims that he posed a threat to law enforcement. “Alex Pretti wasn’t a terrorist. He was a VA nurse,” Warren wrote.
“When agents pushed a woman to the ground, he tried to help her up. His last words were ‘Are you okay?’ Enough. Kristi Noem should resign.”
Nevada senator Jacky Rosen, who narrowly won re-election in 2024 even as Trump carried her state, described Noem as “an abject failure”.
In a statement, Rosen said the secretary was either incapable of controlling the department or endorsing constitutional violations. “She must be impeached and removed from office immediately,” she said.
Attention is now turning to Noem’s upcoming appearance before the Republican-led Senate judiciary committee, where she is scheduled to testify on 3 March. Democratic senator Dick Durbin criticised the delay, noting that Noem had previously refused to appear before the committee.
“Secretary Noem refused to appear last year and now tells us she will be available in five weeks,” Durbin said, adding pointedly: “Should she still be DHS secretary at that time.”
Speculation about Noem’s standing inside the White House intensified after Trump announced that his “border czar”, Tom Homan, would take control of the Minneapolis operation, replacing a senior border patrol official who reported directly to Noem.
While officials denied the move signalled a loss of confidence, it was widely interpreted in Washington as an effort to contain political damage.
Impeachment of cabinet secretaries remains rare in US history. Before the GOP-led House impeached Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024, the only other cabinet official to face impeachment was war secretary William Belknap in 1876.
Read also: Andy Burnham blocked: Starmer faces Labour rebellion over Gorton and Denton By-Election
Neither was convicted by the Senate, underscoring both the seriousness and the uncertainty of the current standoff.
Noem has defended the actions of federal agents involved in Pretti’s killing, saying they fired defensive shots and accusing Pretti of attempting to inflict harm on law enforcement. Critics have challenged that account, arguing that her statements were issued before all facts were known.
Utah senator John Curtis said Noem’s initial response weakened public trust, while Maine senator Susan Collins said she had asked DHS to pause enforcement operations in Minnesota and her home state pending review.
As Democrats call to fire Kristi Noem and Republican unease grows, the controversy has become a defining test of the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement, accountability, and executive power.
With impeachment threats looming, funding deadlines approaching, and bipartisan criticism intensifying, Noem’s future — and the political consequences of her potential removal — remain uncertain.
