BREAKING: New York Governor Kathy Hochul is calling for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to resign and Customs and Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino to be fired following yesterday’s shooting. Hochul said Noem “has proven to be unable and unwilling to follow the law to stop these killings” and “lied about the shooting victims being the aggressors.”

BREAKING: New York Governor Kathy Hochul is calling for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to resign and Customs and Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino to be fired following yesterday’s shooting. Hochul said Noem “has proven to be unable and unwilling to follow the law to stop these killings” and “lied about the shooting victims being the aggressors.”

She added that Bovino, who she said has helped defend and escalate operations in Minnesota, should also be fired. Hochul called the shooting shocking, criticized the federal government’s self-defense narrative, and said “anyone who’s seen this horrific video… knows that this is a shameless, bold-faced lie.”

NY Governor Hochul Demands DHS Chief’s Exit After Minneapolis Shooting**
*January 28, 2026

New York Governor Kathy Hochul intensified calls for major federal leadership changes following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Minneapolis ICU nurse **Alex Pretti** by a federal immigration enforcement agent over the weekend — the second controversial death in recent weeks involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the city.

Hochul blasted Homeland Security Secretary **Kristi Noem**, saying she has “forfeited her right to lead” and urging her immediate resignation or firing. The governor accused Noem of failing to “follow the law to stop these killings” and of mischaracterizing the circumstances of the shooting — claims that critics say clash with emerging video evidence that appears to contradict the federal narrative about the encounter.

Hochul also demanded that **Customs and Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino** be removed, saying his leadership has helped escalate federal enforcement actions in Minnesota rather than de-escalate tensions. “And if not, she must be removed or impeached,” the governor added, tying federal accountability to what many see as a rise in aggressive operations. ([Adirondack Daily Enterprise][1])

The controversy has spurred a broader political conflict in Washington. **House Democrats**, backed by senior party leaders, are threatening impeachment proceedings against Noem if she is not fired, and some bipartisan voices have called for independent investigations into both shootings.

At the same time, President **Donald Trump** has defended Noem and emphasized the need for a “honest investigation,” even as he dispatched federal border czar Tom Homan to oversee operations in Minneapolis amid rising criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of immigration enforcement. ([WHEC.com][4])

Senators from both sides of the aisle, including John Fetterman, have publicly called for Noem’s dismissal, criticizing her response to the shootings and the federal government’s justification for the use of force.

The deaths have fueled protests in Minneapolis and intensified national debate over the scope of federal law enforcement powers, use of force, and accountability — with officials like Hochul framing their calls for leadership change as demands for justice and transparency in federal policing.