Senator John Fetterman issued a forceful call for the immediate removal of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, directly tagging President Donald Trump in his appeal and sharply criticizing her handling of federal immigration enforcement following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

“I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem,” Fetterman posted, addressing Trump directly. “Americans have died. She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary.” The tweet underscored the senator’s view that Noem’s leadership failures have had deadly consequences and that her continued tenure threatens public safety and the credibility of federal enforcement agencies.

.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump: I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem.

Americans have died.

She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy.

DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary.

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 27, 2026

Fetterman’s remarks come in the aftermath of the January 24 shooting of Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. The incident sparked widespread protests and criticism, as bystander videos indicated Pretti was holding a phone rather than a weapon when he was shot. The event has intensified scrutiny of the Department of Homeland Security and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, prompting debates about oversight, accountability, and civil rights.

The senator’s call aligns with a growing congressional effort to hold Noem accountable. One hundred House Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors of articles of impeachment introduced last week by Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois. The resolution accuses Noem of “Gestapo like tactics,” obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust, and self-dealing. It cites claims that congressional oversight was blocked, that ICE enforcement practices violated constitutional protections, and that government contracts were awarded to associates of senior DHS staff. Kelly said the rapid expansion of support for the impeachment reflects rising public and legislative scrutiny of Noem’s actions, especially after enforcement incidents that have resulted in civilian deaths.

DHS has dismissed the impeachment effort and Noem has defended her actions, insisting that her statements and decisions have been factual and that she remains focused on her duties. Still, Fetterman’s statement highlights growing frustration among elected officials that accountability has not been enforced, and that deadly incidents under her leadership continue without significant administrative consequences.

Tapper: Why did you not wait for an investigation before making your comments?

Noem: Well, everything that I've said has been proven to be factual, and the truth.

Tapper: With all due respect the first thing you said was not what happened.

Noem: It absolutely is pic.twitter.com/0yGeWSr9aa

— Acyn (@Acyn) January 11, 2026

By directly tagging Trump, Fetterman aimed to broaden the call for immediate action beyond the current administration, framing Noem’s leadership as a longstanding risk to both public safety and border security policy. His remarks underscore the intensity of partisan and public debate over DHS oversight and signal mounting pressure for changes in the department’s leadership as the fallout from the Pretti shooting and prior enforcement incidents continues to reverberate nationally. The senator’s appeal reinforces a broader conversation about the role of federal agencies in enforcement, civil liberties, and accountability, raising questions about how political and administrative leaders respond when federal actions result in civilian harm.