Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem privately told associates that "everything I've done" in office was directed by President Donald Trump and senior adviser Stephen Miller, according to an Axios report dated Jan. 28, 2026. The disclosure has intensified political and legal scrutiny of the administration's immigration enforcement strategy following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive-care nurse, by federal agents in Minneapolis.
The remarks, relayed by people familiar with Noem's comments, surfaced as House Democrats moved forward with articles of impeachment and as pressure mounted within Republican ranks for her resignation. The Axios report situates Noem's admission amid a widening investigation into Operation Metro Surge, a federal deployment that drew national attention after two deadly encounters involving immigration agents in Minneapolis this month.
Pretti was killed on Jan. 24 during a federal enforcement operation. Initial federal statements said the incident involved a firearm, but bystander video circulated by multiple outlets appeared to contradict official accounts. Minnesota Police Chief Brian O'Hara said on CBS News's Face the Nation that the footage showed no indication that Pretti brandished a weapon before he was shot.
President Trump later described the killing as "very sad" and called for an "honest investigation," while reiterating support for federal immigration enforcement. The episode followed an earlier fatal shooting of another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, which had already intensified criticism from civil rights groups and local officials.
Noem's reported comments, which have not been released in a transcript by her office, underscore the degree to which decision-making at the Department of Homeland Security was centralized within the White House, according to current and former officials. Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, has long been viewed as the principal architect of the administration's hardline immigration agenda despite not holding a Senate-confirmed position.
Political repercussions have spread quickly. More than 140 House Democrats have co-sponsored impeachment articles, arguing that DHS leadership failed to ensure accountability and contributed to a dangerous deployment. Several Republican lawmakers have also called for a full inquiry, citing concerns over public trust and the use of lethal force by federal agents.
Republican senators, including Thom Tillis and John Curtis, have voiced unease about the political and public-safety consequences of the enforcement strategy, warning that the controversy could reverberate into the 2026 midterm elections. Local leaders in Minnesota, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have announced partial withdrawals of federal agents as tensions between city officials and federal authorities escalated.
Legal scrutiny has intensified alongside the political fallout. A federal judge has ordered the preservation of evidence related to the Pretti shooting as Minnesota prosecutors seek to conduct an independent investigation. State officials have said earlier federal resistance delayed their access to key materials.
