Majority of US Voters Demand Noem's Removal After Minneapolis Shooting, Poll Reveals
A significant majority of American voters believe Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should be removed from office following the fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti during a federal immigration operation, according to a new national poll from Quinnipiac University. The survey, released this week, reveals deep public skepticism over the Trump administration's account of the incident and broader concerns about immigration enforcement tactics.
Poll Shows Stark Partisan Divide Over Noem's Future
The Quinnipiac University poll, conducted among 1,191 self-identified registered voters nationwide between January 29 and February 2, found that 58% of voters think Noem should be removed as Department of Homeland Security secretary, while only 34% believe she should remain in the role. The results show a dramatic partisan split: among Republicans, 74% said Noem should remain while 17% said she should be removed, whereas Democrats and independents overwhelmingly favored her removal.
Quinnipiac's Tim Malloy described the result as "a stark rebuke of the administration's top homeland security official" and "a strong no confidence vote for the beleaguered top cop at Homeland Security whose agency's job performance is considered dismal enough by voters that she should be let go."
Public Doubts Administration's Honesty About Shooting
The poll found that 61% of voters believe the Trump administration has not given an honest account of the fatal shooting, while only 25% said it had provided an honest account, with 14% offering no opinion. The incident occurred after Pretti—who was armed with a legally owned and holstered gun—stepped between federal agents and a woman they pushed to the ground. Despite video evidence contradicting her claims, Noem asserted that Pretti brandished his gun.
Doubts about the administration's honesty break sharply along party lines:
- Democrats: 93% believe the administration has not been honest versus 2% who believe it has
- Independents: 65% believe the administration has not been honest versus 20% who believe it has
- Republicans: 60% believe the administration has given an honest account versus 19% who believe it has not
Overwhelming Support for Independent Investigation
An overwhelming 80% of respondents said there should be an independent investigation into the shooting, while only 15% said there should not. This demand reflects the fact that Minnesota state officials have been unable to launch their own probe, leaving accountability questions unresolved. The survey also found that 78% of voters have seen video of the shooting, while 21% have not.
Most Voters Say Shooting Was Unjustified
Regarding the justification for the shooting, 62% of voters said it was not justified, while 22% said it was justified, and 16% did not offer an opinion. The poll indicates broader reputational damage for federal immigration enforcement in the wake of the incident, with 59% of voters saying the recent shootings in Minneapolis were a sign of wider problems in how ICE is operating, while only 32% said they were isolated incidents.
Public Demands ICE Withdrawal and Reforms
The poll found that 60% of voters think ICE should withdraw from Minneapolis, while 36% believe it should continue operations in the city. National approval of how ICE is enforcing immigration laws remains low at 34% approve versus 63% disapprove—a decline from a Quinnipiac poll conducted in January when 40% approved and 57% disapproved.
The survey also points to strong public support for enforcement reforms:
- 92% of voters said ICE agents should be required to wear body cameras
- 61% of respondents said ICE agents should not be permitted to wear masks or other face coverings
Malloy added: "Voters to ICE: Show us your faces and we want those body cameras worn."
Immigration Policy Backlash Affects Trump's Ratings
The poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating remains underwater, with 37% of voters approving of how he is handling his job as president versus 56% disapproving—a slight improvement from mid-January when 54% disapproved. On immigration specifically, 38% approved of Trump's handling of immigration issues versus 59% disapproved, down from 44% approval in a Quinnipiac poll conducted in December 2025.
Further findings on immigration attitudes include:
- 60% of voters believe the Trump administration is being too harsh in its treatment of undocumented immigrants
- 51% of voters said the administration's approach to immigration is making the country less safe
- 59% of voters would prefer giving most undocumented immigrants a pathway to legal status
Deployment Policies Create Widespread Fear
Beyond attitudes toward enforcement, the poll suggests the administration's deportation push is having broader social effects. 47% of voters said they know someone living in fear because of the administration's deportation policies, while 51% said they do not.
Malloy noted: "A chilling survey of the 'American neighborhood' shows nearly half of us know someone who is afraid of being swept up by ICE."
