American politician who has served as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security since 2025. She previously served as Governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025.
Case
Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and CBP officer Raymundo Gutierrez fatally shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. DHS said he was armed and violently resisted; bystander video shows agents had already disarmed him before firing.
Case
ICE officer Christian Castro shot Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis in January 2026. DHS initially called it self-defense against an armed ambush; ICE later said officers' sworn testimony appeared untruthful. Castro faces state assault and federal false-statement charges.
Case
Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum shot Marimar Martinez during a Chicago vehicle confrontation. Agents said she drove at Exum; Martinez and a later state review said she was driving away.
Case
An ICE agent fatally shot Silverio Villegas González in Franklin Park. DHS says he struck and dragged an officer; a state commission's video review said key parts of that account were not established.
Role at the time: U.S. secretary of homeland security testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee
Statement summary
Noem said the shooting appeared wrong as Blumenthal described it, while withholding a final position until she could review the case.
“Sir, the way that you have portrayed it, it appears to be, but let me look at the case so I can speak to the specifics of it.”
Noem agreed only that the conduct appeared wrong as Blumenthal described it and reserved judgment pending review, making her position conditional.
Role at the time: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
Statement summary
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters at a January 24, 2026 press conference that Pretti impeded federal law enforcement operations and attacked officers, framing the shooting as a response to an assault.
“impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers”
Noem characterizes Pretti as the aggressor who attacked and impeded officers, which excuses the agents' decision to fire rather than evaluating whether the force used was proportionate to any threat he actually posed.
Role at the time: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, quoted in a DHS press release
Response to this claim
Officer Christian Castro was ambushed and beaten with a snow shovel and broom handle by Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and two other men, and fired a single defensive shot because he feared for his life.
“What we saw last night in Minneapolis was an attempted murder of federal law enforcement. Our officer was ambushed and attacked by three individuals who beat him with snow shovels and the handles of brooms. Fearing for his life, the officer fired a defensive shot.”
Noem expressly characterizes the shooting as a defensive response to a life-threatening attack, directly excusing Castro's use of force.
Role at the time: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
Statement summary
Noem said agents fired to protect themselves from an attacker.
“Our agents had to protect themselves and shots were fired and an individual ended up in the hospital that was attacking these officers.”
This explicitly presents the shooting as a defensive response to an attack.
Role at the time: U.S. secretary of homeland security
Statement summary
Noem said the agent’s life had been endangered and that he suffered serious injuries during the encounter.
“His life was put at risk and he sustained serious injuries.”
She reinforces the imminent-threat premise used to justify the agent’s decision to fire.
Statement dates: September 18, 2025 to March 3, 2026
Statement dates: September 18, 2025 to March 3, 2026
Statement dates: September 18, 2025 to March 3, 2026
Statement dates: September 18, 2025 to January 24, 2026
