White House Border Czar Tom Homan distanced himself from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s swift characterization of a fatal shooting involving an ICE agent, emphasizing the need for a full investigation before drawing conclusions.

DHS Statement on the Incident

On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Kristi Noem, issued a statement describing the shooting. It claimed that the woman shot by the ICE agent had “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them—an act of domestic terrorism.”

Today, in an act of domestic terrorism, an anti-ICE rioter weaponized her vehicle against law enforcement. Our officer relied on his training and saved his own life, as well as the lives of his fellow officers.

Sanctuary politicians have created an environment that encourages… pic.twitter.com/OGZUkdbr3R

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 8, 2026

The statement added: “An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots. He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers.”

Homan’s Response in CBS Interview

Exclusive: Border Czar Tom Homan tells @tonydokoupil that it’s important to let the investigation in Minneapolis of the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman by ICE agents "play out." He declined to comment on viral videos circulating online, saying it would be "unprofessional"… pic.twitter.com/2AL3WIE7AQ

— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) January 8, 2026

During an appearance on CBS Evening News, host Tony Dokoupil asked Homan to respond to a video of the shooting.

“The investigation has just started,” Homan replied. “I’m not gonna make a judgment call on one video when there’s a hundred videos out there. I wasn’t on the scene, I’m not an officer that may have bodycam video. It’d be unprofessional to comment on what I think happened in that situation. Let the investigation play out and hold people accountable based on the investigation.”

Dokoupil pressed further, noting public confusion over the DHS’s quick conclusion that the incident involved “an act of domestic terrorism” and that the woman had “weaponized her vehicle,” especially since the investigation was just beginning.

“That’s a question for Homeland Security. I’m the border czar,” Homan responded. “What good is it to do right now to pre-judge the facts of what happened without giving law enforcement professionals, whether it’s the FBI or the local police there, give them time to look at all the videos, talk to all of the witnesses, talk to the officers, and make an educated decision on what occurred today?”

Homan, drawing on his experience, concluded: “That’s what needs to happen. I’ve been a cop since 1984, and it’s a process we must go through.”