Shooting in Minneapolis Leaves Homeland Security Department in Turmoil

Jan. 28, 2026 — After federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis this week, the aftermath has plunged the Department of Homeland Security into turmoil, with officials and lawmakers pointing fingers over the operation, The New York Times reported. The dispute has seen Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino pulled out of Minneapolis, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem meet with President Trump for nearly two hours, and advisers such as Stephen Miller and border czar Tom Homan play prominent roles; the White House directed Mr.

Homan to replace Mr. Bovino in Minnesota and to meet local officials to "de-escalate," and a White House spokeswoman said Mr. Trump indicated he was open to an investigation. Administration officials initially said Mr. Pretti had been "brandishing" a gun and labeled him a domestic terrorist, but a preliminary review by the Customs and Border Protection internal watchdog undermined the "brandishing" claim.

Mr. Miller said the Homeland Security Department had chosen its language "based on reports from C.B.P. on the ground," and a U.S. official said Ms. Noem's messaging was crafted in part by Mr. Miller. Current and former homeland security officials described what they called a "severe crisis" inside the agency and one person familiar with internal dynamics called it a "Game of Thrones"-style battle over power.

alex pretti, department of homeland security, kristi noem, gregory bovino, stephen miller, tom homan, president trump, minneapolis shooting, federal agents fatally shot, cbp internal watchdog, preliminary cbp review, brandishing gun claim, domestic terrorist label, investigation into shooting, border protocol violations, immigration crackdown, mass deportations, border patrol chief, border czar replacement, game of thrones-style battle, agency morale concerns, lawsuits and protests, veterans affairs nurse, ice officials