The Department of Homeland Security

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ICE's D.C. meltdown

"ICE Out" day of protest yesterday in Minneapolis, where the high was 4°. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images The Department of Homeland Security is coming under unprecedented scrutiny from Congress after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, with Democratic attacks more strident and Republican defenses more muted than ever, Axios' Andrew Solender and Avery Lotz write. Why it matters: The growing tension could result in a government shutdown next weekend (Jan. 31), politically charged hearings and even an impeachment vote. At least 120 Democrats have signed on to articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Senate Democrats are threatening to allow a partial government shutdown unless a funding bill is altered to rein in the agency. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, has asked the heads of ICE, Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to testify. Today's New York Times front page. See the video analysis (gift link). ? Zoom in: A noticeably large group of Republicans, including longtime Trump allies, demanded a thorough investigation into the shooting, a sign that broader backlash is brewing. One of the highest-profile warnings came from Oversight Committee chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who signaled to the administration — albeit gently — that federal agents should leave Minneapolis. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) called the situation "horrifying" and urged a "prioritized, transparent investigation." Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-Okla.) told CNN's Dana Bash the tragedy is "causing deep concerns over federal tactics and accountability. Americans don't like what they're seeing right now." Makeshift memorial to Alex Pretti near the spot where he was killed. Photo: Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images ? Reality check: Many of the Republicans who spoke out, including Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), are retiring or have frequently broken with Trump. They implored federal agents to cooperate with local law enforcement and avoid a rush to judgment. "The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing," wrote Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). "The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake." The other side: White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson praised the "heroic" immigration officers for capturing criminals "despite violent resistance and dangerous, untrue smears against them." ?️ What to watch: The most immediate impact of the shooting will be in the Senate, where a package of six spending bills is now in significant peril. The package would fund a huge portion of the federal government beyond DHS, including the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Transportation and Labor. Several Senate Democrats who voted to end the last government shutdown — including Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia — have said they'll oppose DHS funding. ? Go deeper: Former President Obama says the killing of Alex Pretti should be a "wake-up call to every American." Former President Clinton says: "Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come. This is one of them."

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👀 Resistance erupts over ICE buying spree

An aerial view of anti-ICE protesters marching in Minneapolis on Saturday. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images A massive buyer has entered the market for commercial warehouses, sparking furious local protests: The Department of Homeland Security has scouted dozens of locations to retrofit into ICE detention centers. The biggest ones could hold as many as 9,500 people, Axios' Brittany Gibson writes. Why it matters: ICE's detention population nearly doubled over the past year, but lack of capacity was a bottleneck on mass deportations. These sites will need additional spending to retrofit them to house people — for up to six months legally — before deportation. Keep reading.

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⚡ Scoop: Border wall holdup

Multiple segments of border wall construction are being held up by a lack of final sign-off from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Axios' Brittany Gibson has learned from two sources familiar with the delays.

• Why it matters: Only 30 miles of border barriers — out of a target of nearly 2,000 miles by 2029 — have been started and completed in President Trump's second term.

Contracts for about 200 miles of border wall barriers had been awarded and were awaiting Noem's signature as of last Tuesday, according to a memo obtained by Axios.

• A senior DHS official confirmed the contracts have yet to be signed, saying they're going through the review process at headquarters and haven't reached Noem's desk.
• DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: "The department takes its fiduciary duty to the American taxpayer seriously, putting any contract through a full review, resulting in over $13 Billion saved under Secretary Noem."

🔬 Zoom in: About 720 miles of primary and secondary border wall were in place when Trump took office last year.

• DHS announced the first contracts in October and December 2025, totaling about $8 billion. McLaughlin said spending has now reached $12 billion.
• The awards will add 412 miles of "Smart Wall" physical barriers and 400 miles of new technology, according to news releases.

👓 Behind the scenes: Noem can sign off on these contracts at her discretion. The official said it typically happens within 24 hours of them reaching her office. At times, she signs stacks of paperwork in one sitting.

• Noem is holding a press conference in Nogales, Ariz., today to announce "a major border wall update."

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🥊 Kristi Noem's vise grip on DHS

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Getty Images

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has upended DHS staffing in her first year, pairing high-level leadership purges with a growing staff exodus, Axios' Brittany Gibson reports. Multiple reports describe a culture of fear inside DHS as Noem and her top adviser Corey Lewandowski have fired, reassigned and demoted people throughout the department's 23 sub-agencies. ✂️ About 10% of employees left DHS last year, Federal News Network found. The staffing shake-up has left thousands fewer employees at headquarters and key agencies, including FEMA, CISA and TSA — while ICE and Border Patrol added headcount. The other side: "Secretary Noem saved U.S. taxpayers $1.3 billion ... without cuts to key law enforcement, border security, national security, immigration enforcement and positions with a public safety responsibility," a DHS spokesperson said. Keep reading.

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👀 Noem leaves mess

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is on track to leave dozens of pending contracts on her desk when she departs in three weeks, the legacy of a system she imposed to cut "waste, fraud and abuse" that has stalled DHS programs, Axios' Brittany Gibson writes. Why it matters: The backlog of contracts has left vendors waiting for payments and delayed border-wall construction and FEMA disaster relief. A source familiar with the DHS situation told Axios there's a "mountain of backed-up contracts and invoices on her desk that the new guy will just have to deal with." Keep reading.

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Greg Bovino Reportedly Retiring After DHS Denied He Lost His Job In Wake Of Minnesota Killings

Customs and Border Protection Commander Greg Bovino will soon retire from federal service, according to multiple outlets, reportedly stepping down months after the Department of Homeland Security denied he lost his job following federal agents’ fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota early this year.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/03/16/greg-bovino-retiring-after-dhs-denied-he-lost-his-job-in-wake-of-minnesota-killings-report-says/

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💰 DHS (even more) stuck

Plenty of heat and personal vitriol came out in Sen. Markwayne Mullin's (R-Okla.) hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

• 💡 But little light broke through on how to end the DHS shutdown.

Why it matters: After weeks of negotiations — and the firing of a Cabinet official — Democrats remain dug in on demands for statutory changes to ICE and Border Patrol.

• Mullin's testimony didn't alter that dynamic.
• "I don't think his nomination increases the likelihood of a compromise, because he stood pretty firm against the kinds of reforms that Americans are demanding," Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), told us.
• That's despite Mullin drifting toward the Democrats' direction, signaling openness to requiring judicial warrants for federal immigration agents to enter private homes or businesses.

Still, Democrats told us they were unmoved, insisting those concessions must come through legislation — not agency discretion.

• "They refuse to do that, and you will understand if that raises our antenna," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of Senate Democratic leadership, told reporters today.
• 👍 "It's a good thing if he's recognizing legal reality, but that's not going to close the gap," said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.).

Zoom out: Democrats continue to argue the problem is bigger than Mullin — or any personnel change at DHS.

• They want reforms that cannot be undone by President Trump, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller or future Cabinet officials.
• "We're asking to do all of the things that Mullin is saying he's willing to do, except in a way that doesn't depend on the whims of the president or Stephen Miller or Markwayne Mullin," Schatz said.
• Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), an Appropriations Committee member, said he has "no confidence" that Mullin would change administration policy.

The bottom line: Mullin signaled openness to policy shifts at DHS, but his hearing was defined by a chair's implacable opposition — and Democrats' refusal to fund ICE without legislative guarantees.

— Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

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US Border Patrol chief Michael Banks is resigning, in latest DHS leadership change

The head of U.S. Border Patrol, the agency tasked with securing the nation’s frontiers and increasingly tapped by the Trump administration for immigration operations in American cities, announced his resignation Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/border-patrol-chief-michael-banks-immigration-846fb883c40bb4643a81e73139249482?