Kristi Noem grilled over Alex Pretti statement, and other key takeaways from Senate hearing

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before a Senate committee to defend her department's implementation of President Trump's immigration enforcement policies amid a partial government shutdown caused by Democrats withholding funding. The hearing focused heavily on Operation Metro Surge, particularly the fatal shootings of two Minnesota citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by immigration agents during raids in January. While Noem defended DHS achievements and declined to apologize for initially labeling Pretti's actions as "domestic terrorism," she faced criticism from both parties—Democrats questioned her handling of the fatal shootings while Republicans challenged a costly advertising campaign and questioned the effectiveness of deportation tactics.