California Gov. Gavin Newsom is placing direct responsibility on White House Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller for the violence and unrest that have followed federal immigration enforcement actions nationwide, accusing him of fueling “deaths, violence, and chaos” and demanding he be removed.
“Stephen Miller is directly responsible for the deaths, violence, and chaos from Trump Administration’s lawless, violent rampage across America,” Newsom said in a statement. “He must be fired and held accountable.” It was one of Newsom’s sharpest attacks yet on Miller, who has long been viewed as a key architect of the administration’s immigration strategy.
Newsom’s remarks come as political pressure escalates after the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and union member who was fatally shot during federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. The incident has fueled protests across the country and intensified scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, as well as leadership decisions at the Department of Homeland Security.
Labor organizations have amplified the calls for accountability. The American Federation of Government Employees — the largest federal employee union in the country — has demanded the resignation or termination of both Kristi Noem and Miller, arguing that the policies they shaped and advanced contributed directly to Pretti’s death. AFGE National President Everett Kelley described Miller as the driving force behind the administration’s immigration playbook and criticized public claims that portrayed Pretti as a “domestic terrorist,” a characterization the union rejects as false and defamatory.
Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Minnesota and was a member of AFGE Local 3669, according to the union, which highlighted his career caring for veterans. The union argues that senior officials share responsibility not only for decisions that heightened tensions but also for statements made after the shooting that, it says, weakened public trust and reduced transparency.
AFGE has called for an independent third-party investigation and bipartisan congressional oversight to examine the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death and the federal decisions that preceded it. The union also accused Noem of reshaping DHS leadership and consolidating authority in ways that prioritize political goals over public and officer safety, while alleging that Miller exerted broad influence over immigration policy across multiple agencies.
Newsom’s statement adds to a growing push from Democratic leaders and allied groups demanding consequences at the top of the administration. In recent days, some lawmakers have called for Noem’s removal, floated impeachment efforts, and accused the administration of using federal power in ways that endanger civilians and weaken constitutional protections.
By singling out Miller, Newsom’s remarks also redirect attention beyond DHS leadership and toward the White House, escalating pressure on Donald Trump to respond to questions about who is shaping and driving the immigration enforcement approach now at the center of national outrage.
