Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat who represents Minnesota, had questions for Noem about the recent Operation Metro Surge, where thousands of DHS agents conducted immigration raids that sparked protests in the streets and challenges from local leaders.
“Two of my constituents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed,” said Klobuchar, referring to two US citizens who were fatally shot by immigration agents during the height of the operation in January.
The government has said the officers involved feared for their lives and acted in self-defence.
In a press conference immediately after Pretti’s death, Noem said, without evidence, that Pretti came to the scene of a deportation action with “weapons” and had “committed an act of domestic terrorism” when he was shot.
Pretti was legally carrying a concealed weapon at the time, but video of the incident appeared to show Pretti holding only a phone in his hands and an officer apparently removing a gun from him moments before agents opened fire.
Klobuchar grilled Noem on her statement about domestic terrorism, adding that Pretti’s parents had said it had hurt them.
“Do you have anything you want to say to Alex Pretti’s parents?” Klobuchar asked.
Noem responded that she was relying on initial information after Pretti was shot when she made the allegation, but did not apologise.
“I can’t even imagine what they have gone through in the loss of their son and the loss of their family members,” Noem said, and called his death an “absolute tragedy.”
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), both part of DHS, were involved in the shootings of Pretti and Good.
Noem also told Klobuchar that there were still 650 DHS personnel deployed to Minneapolis.
