One-in-five Trump voters join nearly all Democrats in calling for DHS Secretary’s resignation
February 10, 2026 – Protests continue in Minnesota, as at least 50 individuals were arrested this weekend at a federal building outside Minneapolis. And while the Department of Homeland Security reportedly removed 700 officers last week, some 2,000 still remain.
For most Americans one of the results of recent violence should be the removal of the head of that department.
New data from Angus Reid USA finds a majority of Americans believe DHS Secretary Kristi Noem should resign over the way her department handled recent events in Minnesota.
More than half (54%) of U.S. adults say Noem should step down, compared to 24 per cent who believe she should continue to lead DHS and 22 per cent who are unsure.
Support for resignation is strongest among past Democratic voters, while one-in-five Trump voters (18%) agree. Among those who did not vote in the 2024 election, a majority (54%) also believe resignation is warranted.
This, as blame for the deaths of Minnesota natives Alex Pretti and Renee Good are viewed as primarily the fault of ICE and not the protesters in the streets. A slight majority (54%) say federal immigration authorities are primarily responsible, with young women feeling this way most overtly (66%). In contrast, 30 per cent say Anti-ICE protesters are to blame, which rises to 45 per cent among older men (55+).
INDEX:
- Most Americans blame federal immigration authorities for deaths
- Majority, and one-in-five Trump voters, would see Noem resign
Most Americans blame federal immigration authorities for deaths
Debate has raged in recent weeks over violent clashes between anti-ICE protesters and federal immigration officials. Some say federal officials have operated with disproportionate force and undermined constitutional protections in their actions, the result of which has been the death of two people, both captured on video by bystanders. Others have argued that ICE must be allowed to operate freely to enforce laws and remove criminals, and that protesters have been impeding upon this and ratcheting up the temperature. When asked who they believe was primarily responsible for the deaths of Good and Pretti in Minneapolis, Americans are far more likely to point to federal authorities than to protesters.
Overall, 54 per cent say responsibility lies with federal immigration authorities such as ICE or DHS, while 30 per cent blame anti-ICE protesters. Another 16 per cent say they are unsure.
This view holds across age and gender, with pluralities or majorities in every group assigning responsibility to federal authorities. Men aged 35 to 54 are especially likely to hold this view (53%), as are women aged 18 to 34 (66%).
Political identity strongly shapes views of responsibility. Among Harris voters, 90 per cent say federal immigration authorities are primarily to blame, compared to just three per cent who point to protesters. By contrast, two-thirds of Trump voters (66%) say protesters bear the greatest responsibility, while 15 per cent blame federal authorities.
Those who did not vote in 2024 more closely resemble the national average, with 59 per cent blaming federal immigration authorities and six per cent pointing to protesters, while more than one-third say they are unsure.
Majority, and one-in-five Trump voters, would see Noem resign
The debate over DHS leadership follows a series of decisions and public statements by Secretary Kristi Noem after violent confrontations tied to immigration enforcement and protests in Minnesota, which resulted in the deaths of two people in Minneapolis. Critics have questioned the department’s handling of the situation and the tone set by senior leadership. After their deaths, Noem called both Renee Good and Alex Pretti “domestic terrorists”.
Support for Noem’s resignation is evident across racial and ethnic groups. Half of White respondents (50%) say she should step down, rising to 58 per cent among Black respondents and 60 per cent among Hispanic respondents. In each group, fewer than three-in-ten believe she should remain in her role.
Politically, one-in-five Trump voters would see Noem resign, while three-in-10 aren’t sure (28%). This leaves a slight majority that would keep her on. Others are widely supportive of the resignation calls.
For detailed results by age, gender, region, education, and other demographics, click here.
For PDF of full release, click here.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Angus Reid, Chairman: angus@angus.org @AngusReid
Shachi Kurl, President: 1.604.908.1693 shachi.kurl@angusreid.org @shachikurl