Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem shared the latest about Saturday’s shooting in Minneapolis during a press conference from FEMA headquarters on Saturday afternoon.
Pres. Trump and Democrat leaders on the state and federal level had their say, also, as RedState wrote shortly after the news broke about the shooting incident, which occurred as Border Patrol agents were reportedly conducting an immigration operation. One person, identified as a 37-year-old man by local law enforcement officials, was shot and killed.
READ MORE: Trump’s Statement on Latest Minneapolis Shooting: ‘You’re Witnessing a Cover Up for…Fraud’
MN Leaders, Police Chief Respond After Fatal Minneapolis Border Patrol Shooting
Sec. Noem began her remarks by saying she wanted to “address the tragic situation that we saw…that unfolded on the streets,” as DHS officers “carried out their lawful duties”:
.@Sec_Noem: “This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement… This tragedy did not have to happen.” pic.twitter.com/owSMEyCdl5
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 24, 2026
She repeated the criminal history previously laid out by Commander Bovino (see above link) for the illegal alien suspect whom the agents were trying to capture, and outlined the incident at the scene.
Following the shooting, hundreds of protesters arrived and began throwing objects at officers there. In the melee, she said, an officer’s finger was bitten off, something that Assistant DHS Sec. Tricia McLaughlin shared in an X post.
(Warning: images at link are graphic)
Sec. Noem called out Gov. Walz’s incendiary remarks from his press conference on Saturday afternoon:
.@Sec_Noem: “The Minnesota Governor and the Minneapolis Mayor need to take a long, hard look in the mirror. They need to evaluate their rhetoric, their conversations, and their encouragement of such violence against our citizens and our law enforcement officers.” pic.twitter.com/RcD1qbqkZR
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 24, 2026
“In other cities and states, we don’t see this [violence] happen,” Noem said, pointing to cities like Memphis, TN, where state and local officials provide assistance to agents. She contrasted this behavior with what they are seeing in MN, saying that, “In Minneapolis, Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey, they instead choose violence…It appears they want this lawlessness to continue.”
She announced that the administration and DHS are making two requests of Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey:
.@Sec_Noem: “The two things that we’ve asked @GovTimWalz and @MayorFrey for is that they would partner with us and before they let somebody dangerous out of their jails, that they would let us know so we can deport them out of our country. I do not know why they continue to… pic.twitter.com/tCmSKMWbD4
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 24, 2026
“When they are going to release a dangerous criminal from their jails, turn them over to us, so we can get them out of the country as soon as possible.” Noem said MN officials have released 490 criminals onto the streets during the first year of Pres. Trump’s second term.
The second request: “Just give us back-up on the streets” for DHS agents.
Noem explained that the Democrats are choosing not to do that because they would rather people not be talking about the vast reports of alleged Somali daycare and other fraud “they facilitated in MN.”
She confirmed to a reporter’s questioning that her department is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Noem went on to say that when people bring weapons to a protest of a law enforcement operation, that makes it a “violent riot.” She cautioned that no one should be distracted from the assault on the CBP agent, and that officers were in the process of hunting down a violent criminal.
.@Sec_Noem: “This individual showed up to impede a law enforcement operation, and assaulted our officers. They responded according to their training… this is a violent riot, when you have someone showing up with weapons, and are using them to assault law enforcement officers.” pic.twitter.com/wkXj8mIFzA
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 24, 2026
She hammered home the fraud that stole help and services from everyday Americans that Democrats “allowed, and now they want to perpetuate violence” and do “a cover-up.” She also reminded media that some of these politicians have been subpoenaed as part of the ongoing fraud investigation.
“This individual impeded law enforcement officers and attacked them,” she said, when a reporter asked her why citizens are being dragged into federal agents’ ops. “These agents took actions to defend their lives and to defend the lives of those around them, and acted according to their training.”
“We will continue to let this process go forward and not allow people like Governor Walz and Mayor Frey to lie about what actually unfolded on that street,” or “distract from” law enforcement’s work, she added.
Walz “backed the previous administration’s allowing” the debacle at the border, with illegals pouring into the country. Noem also pointed to the “networks” that brought drugs and committed human trafficking under Biden, and that will “stop” on Pres. Trump’s watch.
This is a developing story. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated post-publication for clarity.
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