Kristi Noem is facing Donald Trump’s wrath as he orders her longtime rival, Border Czar Tom Homan, to clean up the chaos caused by her immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Immigration agents over the weekend found themselves at the center of another controversial slaying of an American citizen in Minneapolis after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old local nurse.
‘I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there,’ Trump wrote to his followers on Truth Social. ‘Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.’
Democratic leaders at the national, state, and local levels have condemned Noem’s immigration crackdown, while Republican lawmakers in Washington have raised concerns that the operation has spiraled out of control.
Trump has privately expressed that Noem’s department mishandled the public perception of the Minneapolis shooting, according to multiple reports. The President has sided more with Homan, one of his most loyal immigration officials and a longtime rival to Noem within the administration.
Chaos unfolded outside of the Home Suites by Hilton Hotel in Minneapolis on Sunday night – a day after Pretti was fatally shot by border patrol officers in the sanctuary city.
Protestors bashed windows and spray-painted the hotel’s facade, videos showed. Others chanted and paced in front of the building.
Rioters tried to bust through the front door but were unsuccessful and continued their commotion in the street. The alarming scene continued for more than an hour without police intervening.
Donald Trump gestures as he climbs a staircase after a signing ceremony of the founding charter at the ‘Board of Peace’ meeting at Davos on January 22
The moment that the firearm of a man identified as Alex Pretti is retrieved from a waistband holster by a federal officer (in light grey jacket, crouched) as another officer (in green) draws his weapon, before Pretti was fatally shot in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 24
ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed while being detained by ICE agents on Saturday
Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington, DC, on Saturday
White House Border Czar Tom Homan prepares to speak to reporters at the White House in Washington, DC, January 14
A federal agent points a weapon at a person outside a hotel during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city Sunday
A Minneapolis Police Officer (2nd-L) stands guard as protesters use megaphones during the ‘ICE OUT! Noise Demo’ at the entrance of a hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 25,
Federal agents gather during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city Sunday, Jan. 25
A protester blows a whistle during a noise demonstration in front of a hotel where they believe ICE agents are staying in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city Sunday, Jan. 25
A federal agent stands guard near a hotel during a noise demonstration protest in response to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city Sunday, Jan. 25
Noem and Homan have battled for control of Trump’s mass deportation agenda from the start of the administration.
Under Noem’s leadership, non-law enforcement DHS officials have feuded with career ICE officers, who are loyal to Homan, over how to detain and deport illegal migrants.
Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Trump insider and rumored lover to Noem, has publicly accused Homan of leaking to the press and has sought to oust immigration officers close to the border czar.
Homan now appears to have The President’s support after Trump appointed him to clean up the mess caused by Noem’s leadership in the Twin Cities.
Trump then vowed to continue his administration’s efforts to investigate fraud in Minnesota and took a shot at Minnesota Democratic Rep. Illhan Omar.
‘Separately, a major investigation is going on with respect to the massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota, and is at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.’
He concluded, ‘Additionally, the DOJ and Congress are looking at ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 Million Dollars. Time will tell all.’
Following Trump’s Monday morning announcement, Noem issued a statement praising Homan as a ‘major asset’ to her team – appearing to signal she still has the final say over the operation.
‘I have worked closely with Tom over the last year and he has been a major asset to our team — his experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the of streets of Minneapolis.’
Pretti’s death over the weekend was the second fatal shooting of a natural born American by immigration agents since Noem launched the crackdown.
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE agent on January 7th as she tried to drive her SUV away while agents ordered her out of the car.
Trump expressed regret over the shooting, referring to Good’s family being MAGA voters, but blamed the local Democratic leadership for fueling resentment towards ICE.
Trump’s sweeping ICE ‘surge’ into the Minneapolis-St Paul area began in early December.
Shortly afterwards, a video by the right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley documenting alleged migrant welfare fraud exploded online.
Trump deployed another 2,000 federal agents and officers to the Minneapolis area at the start of January in what the administration touted as the largest federal immigration enforcement operation ever carried out.
