South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald J. Trump's nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, on Friday heard from senators about the agency that will be critical to fulfilling the new administration's promise to quickly crack down on immigration. He is scheduled to take questions.
Noem, who has been South Dakota's governor since 2019, has largely avoided scrutiny over Trump's other nominees, but the agencies she seeks to oversee include the country's immigration system, including law enforcement on the southern border. is operated. The department also includes other critical agencies such as the Secret Service, Coast Guard, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
She will take on members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee at a time when perceptions about immigration are changing. Trump's pledges to aggressively secure the border and carry out large-scale deportations helped him win in November, and some Democrats have signaled support for increased enforcement.
“As you know, I have stood firmly against this invasion,” she said in a speech last week. “We deployed the South Dakota National Guard to our southern border eight times, including a five-state deployment to support Texas efforts to stem the flow of illegal aliens.”
Trump said Noem is “very strong on border security,” but history shows it may be difficult to keep him happy. During Trump's first term, the department had six leaders.
The president-elect also said he would work closely with Tom Homan, whom Noem announced as the White House's “border czar” and gave him broad responsibilities.
The National Border Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents, supports Noem's nomination.
“We are confident that Governor Noem, as Secretary, will continue to ensure Border Patrol agents have the resources and personnel they need to secure our border,” the union said in a letter to senators late last year. “I urge you to begin consideration of this important nomination immediately and to confirm Governor Noem as Secretary once President Trump takes office.”
The American Civil Liberties Union called on senators to investigate Noem's views on important issues.
“The risks are even higher given President-elect Trump's commitments,” Sarah Mehta, the group's senior policy adviser, said in a statement. “The Senate takes its 'advice and consent' role seriously and will continue to support Kristi Noem on critical issues that impact our entire community, including surveillance, religious and racial profiling, and the use of force against protesters.” We must put him on record.”
In order to carry out what Trump has promised is perhaps the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, the department will need more resources, more cooperation nationwide from local prisons, and more general restrictions on the return of citizens. A number of things will be needed, including increased deportations to countries where people are living.
Noem served in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019 before being elected governor.
