Calls escalate to oust DHS chief Noem over Minneapolis ICE surge
The article reports that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing intensifying calls for her firing or impeachment from Democratic members of Congress, civil‑rights groups and Minnesota officials over her handling of Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s massive ICE and Border Patrol crackdown centered on Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Critics cite the fatal shooting of Renee Good, the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti and another north‑side wounding by federal agents, along with battering‑ram raids, child detentions and bystander injuries, as evidence of systemic abuses under Noem’s watch. The piece notes that impeachment articles in the U.S. House accuse her of violating civil rights, obstructing oversight and green‑lighting unconstitutional tactics, and that local leaders like Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison argue the surge has turned Twin Cities neighborhoods into a federal militarized zone. It also underscores that the White House is standing by Noem so far, framing the surge as necessary law‑enforcement, and that any impeachment would be an uphill climb in a Republican‑run House and closely divided Senate. On social media, Twin Cities residents are amplifying video of federal shootings and raids while business owners and school communities describe Noem as personally responsible for the fear and economic damage rippling through immigrant corridors.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is the target of growing calls for firing or impeachment tied to Operation Metro Surge, the ICE/Border Patrol crackdown focused on Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
- Impeachment resolutions in the U.S. House accuse Noem of civil‑rights violations, obstructing oversight, and overseeing warrantless or abusive enforcement tactics that led to at least two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
- Minnesota leaders including Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison are cited as central critics, arguing that Noem’s surge has terrorized immigrant communities, driven down small‑business revenue and strained local schools and hospitals.
- The White House and DHS continue to defend Noem and the surge as necessary to target "criminal aliens," setting up a clash with Minnesota officials, multiple federal judges who have ordered detainees released, and a wave of habeas and civil‑rights litigation.
- Public pressure to remove Noem is being fueled by widely shared bystander video from Twin Cities shootings and raids, which in several cases undercut DHS’s official accounts of what happened.
đź“Š Relevant Data
Somali immigrants in Minnesota have been resettled there primarily due to fleeing civil war and instability in Somalia, with Minnesota becoming a hub through family reunification and community networks.
Somalis Fled Civil War and Built a Community. Now They Are a Target. — The New York Times
Venezuelan migration to the US from 2020-2025 was driven by economic collapse, political instability, and hyperinflation in Venezuela, leading to over 7.9 million Venezuelans fleeing worldwide, with many seeking asylum in the US.
Venezuelan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in annual income and contribute approximately $67 million in state and local taxes.
Solidarity with our immigrant neighbors — Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Immigrants in Minnesota, including groups like Venezuelans, contribute $26 billion to the state's economy, with foreign-born workers accounting for nearly 60 percent of labor force growth from 2019 to 2023.
Economist: Immigrants contribute $26 billion to Minnesota's economy — MPR News
Minnesota's foreign-born population grew from about 428,000 in 2014 to 524,000 in 2024, comprising 8.6% of the state's population in 2023.
How many immigrants are in Minnesota? — USAFacts
Immigrant-owned businesses in Minnesota are closing or reducing hours due to staff shortages and fear from ICE enforcement, leading to economic disruptions in key immigrant business corridors.
Minnesota business owners feeling the effects of ICE enforcement actions — MPR News
ICE presence in Minnesota health care settings is deterring immigrant patients from seeking care, leading to worsened health outcomes and public health risks.
ICE Presence in Minnesota Health Care Settings Threatens Access to Essential Medical Care — The American Journal of Managed Care
Operation Metro Surge targets individuals with criminal convictions, including pedophiles, domestic abusers, and gang members, with over 3,300 arrests in Minnesota since the operation began.
Who is ICE arresting during 'Operation Metro Surge'? — KSTP
From 2015 to 2025, ICE agents were involved in 59 shootings, with a spike in incidents during periods of intensified immigration enforcement.
ICE's Hidden History of Deadly Shootings by Immigration Officers — The Trace
Areas with high Somali populations in Minnesota, such as certain neighborhoods with 9,400 Somali residents, have violent crime rates 319% higher than the state average.
Somali gang crimes in Bloomington? — Facebook
Venezuelan immigrants in the US have lower incarceration rates compared to natives, with rates at 241 per 100,000 for Venezuelans versus higher rates for US-born individuals.
Illegal Immigrant Incarceration Rates, 2010–2023 — Cato Institute
đź“° Source Timeline (1)
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