Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged Sunday that DHS “can always do better” after questions about the agency’s handling of unrest that prompted Tom Homan’s deployment to Minneapolis. Noem called the protests an organized, well-funded campaign and said DHS is working to protect people and federal buildings while pursuing violent criminals. Homan pledged to stay in Minnesota to lead ICE operations “until the problem is gone,” even as House Democrats demanded leadership changes. President Trump defended Noem and reiterated his claim that the border is secure.
Noem Says DHS ‘Can Always Do Better’ Amid Scrutiny Over Homan’s Deployment to Minneapolis
Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference at Miami International Airport on Jan. 31, 2026, in Florida.(Getty Images)
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that the Department of Homeland Security “can always do better” after being pressed about alleged errors before the deployment of border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis.
Appearing on Fox & Friends Weekend, Noem said the department learns from every situation and continuously works to improve operations. “I would say that we can always do better, and we learn from every situation that we're in,” she told the program.
Assessing the unrest: Noem described the disturbances in the Twin Cities as part of “a very organized, well-funded campaign of violent protests” targeting law enforcement. She said DHS is gathering information quickly to develop strategies to protect people and federal buildings, following guidance outlined by the president the previous day.
Priorities and response: Noem emphasized DHS’s priorities are protecting Americans, pursuing violent criminals involved in drug and human trafficking, and removing those who do not belong in the country. She added that much of DHS’s work goes unseen when it prevents attacks or criminal activity before they reach the public eye.
Border czar Tom Homan speaks during a news conference about immigration enforcement operations on Jan. 29, 2026, in Minneapolis.
“The days that you don't hear about us are the days that we were successful,” Noem said, arguing that many plots and criminal threats are disrupted before they can harm families.
Noem’s remarks followed President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy Tom Homan to Minnesota after confrontations between anti-ICE demonstrators and federal agents sparked unrest across the Twin Cities. At a Jan. 29 news conference after a meeting with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Homan vowed to remain in Minnesota and oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations there “until the problem is gone.”
The unrest included law enforcement–related deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, incidents that intensified public anger and scrutiny of the federal response.
Political fallout: House Democrats increased pressure on DHS leadership amid the tensions, calling for the department head’s removal and warning they could pursue impeachment if the official remains in office. Despite those calls, President Trump publicly praised Noem’s performance, saying “I think she's doing a very good job,” and asserting that the border is now “totally secure.”
As federal operations continue in Minnesota, the debate over the federal response and leadership at DHS persists. Officials say they will continue to refine strategies and learn from recent events to better protect communities and federal assets.
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