President Donald Trump said in a statement that he would not fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, despite ongoing controversy regarding her actions and statements regarding the president’s widespread deportation operations.

Noem has been the subject of much criticism after she defended federal agents who shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Trump offered his support for the Homeland Security Secretary at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. He expressed confusion over why people have demanded Noem’s firing. “We have the strongest border in the history of our country,” he said. “We have the best crime numbers we’ve ever had, going back to the year 1900, that’s 125 years.”

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have called for Noem’s resignation. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told the press that she should be fired.

Earlier this year, Noem conceded that she may have mishandled information about the federal agent’s killing of Good and Pretti.

She dodged questions about her leadership of the DHS, defending herself by claiming she was “following the law” and “enforcing the laws like President Trump promised he would.”

Since the increased scrutiny, Trump and Noem have sought to soften their messaging on ICE operations nationwide.

Despite Trump’s defense of Noem, he has moved to soften his administration’s approach.

He replaced Border Chief Greg Bovino with Border Czar Tom Homan earlier this month to manage immigration officers in Minneapolis amidst increased tensions. Last week, Homan announced he would withdraw nearly 700 agents from Minnesota.