Amid freezing temperatures and mounting pressure from local Democratic officials, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered an unapologetic message to the nation regarding the massive federal law enforcement surge in Minneapolis: The agents are staying until the job is done.
Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday, Noem offered a spirited defense of the Trump administration’s interior enforcement strategy, framing the contentious operation as a necessary restoration of public safety in a city she says has been failed by its own leadership.
“I think every day we get a murderer off the streets of Minneapolis, the public is safer,” Noem told host Margaret Brennan, noting that the operation has already resulted in the detention of thousands of criminal aliens since President Trump returned to the Oval Office.
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Cleaning Up the Backlog
While critics have focused on the scale of the deployment—nearly 3,000 federal agents are currently on the ground—Noem argued the operation is a direct response to the national security vulnerabilities created during the previous four years. She pointed specifically to the “open-border policies” of the Biden administration, which she claimed allowed millions of unvetted individuals, including known criminals and suspected terrorists, to enter the interior of the country.
“I can’t tell the people of Minnesota exactly how many dangerous criminals they have,” Noem said, citing the lack of vetting during the prior administration’s mass migration waves. “I do know that they’re extremely grateful every time we get a pedophile off the street.”
When challenged on the specific breakdown of those arrested, Noem stood by agency data stating that 70 percent of detainees have criminal charges or convictions, pushing back against media narratives suggesting the sweeps are targeting non-violent offenders.
READ: ICE Sweeps Minnesota: Convicted Murderers, Child Predators Arrested Amid Heated Tension
Officer Safety and the Rule of Law
The Secretary also strongly defended the actions of an ICE agent involved in the recent shooting of Renee Good, an incident that has sparked protests across the Twin Cities. While local activists have decried the shooting, Noem directed attention to the dangerous environment federal agents face, describing the incident as a clear case of an individual “weaponizing her car” to threaten a law enforcement officer’s life.
Noem expressed frustration with the media’s coverage of the incident, noting an alarming spike in violence directed at police. She cited an “8,000 percent increase” in death threats against agents, many of whom have been doxxed and harassed at their hotels.
“This officer relied on his training to defend his life and to defend those around him,” Noem said, refusing to confirm if the injured agent was on leave in order to protect his privacy and safety.
Federal Action vs. Local Inaction
Perhaps the sharpest words were reserved for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Noem accused the local leaders of fostering an environment where violent protests impede legitimate law enforcement work, leading to unfortunate collateral incidents—such as the tear-gassing of a vehicle carrying a local family—that she argued could be avoided if local officials established order.
READ: “He May Be Complicit”: Noem Slams Walz as Trump Threatens “Insurrection Act”
Dismissing Governor Walz’s criticisms of the federal operation, Noem pointed to his track record during the 2020 riots.
“He also ignored the law and allowed the city of Minneapolis to burn down in 2020,” Noem said. “I’m not going to be taking any advice from him in how we implement the law and protect people.”
For now, DHS appears resolute. Despite a federal judge’s order regarding chemical agents—which Noem dismissed as redundant to current protocol—and continued demonstrations, the Secretary made it clear that the federal government will not cede the streets.
“We won’t stop until we are sure that all the dangerous people are picked up, brought to justice, and then deported,” she said.
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