Washington – South Dakota Governor. Kristi NoemPresident-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the vast Department of Homeland Security is drawing questions from lawmakers at a Senate confirmation hearing on Friday.
She is appearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over DHS and nominees to lead the department.
“As we face the emerging threats of the 21st century, DHS's mission and success are more critical than ever. We must be vigilant, proactive, and innovative to protect the homeland,” he said in his inaugural statement. “The challenges we face are extremely significant, and we must secure our borders against illegal smuggling and immigration.”
Noem, a former Republican member of Congress who has been governor of South Dakota since 2019, was expected to be asked about the incoming Trump administration's sweeping immigration plans, including a promised mass deportation operation.
While DHS oversees airport security, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other responsibilities, it also includes the three main federal immigration agencies that will play a key role in implementing Trump's immigration agenda: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Ben Curtis/AP
When announcing her nomination as DHS secretary shortly after the election, Trump said that Noem would send Texas state officials to help strengthen it amid record levels of migrant crossings, sending the South Dakota National Guard to the US-Mexico border. Sent to the border.
If confirmed as DHS secretary, Noem would likely play a key role in shaping the second Trump administration's planned changes to U.S. immigration and border policy, along with incoming border czar Tom Homan and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Republicans control the majority in the Senate, making his confirmation likely.
Among other promises, Trump and his advisers have sought to reverse the Biden administration's immigration programs, tighten rules at the US-Mexico border, reduce refugee admissions and dramatically increase deportations of immigrants living in the country illegally. Have sworn. The president-elect has also promised to dismantle the long-standing principle of birthright citizenship to prevent children born to unauthorized immigrants from becoming U.S. citizens at birth.
Considered a Trump loyalist, Noem has been praised by conservatives for her record as governor, including vocally opposing mask mandates and other COVID-era measures. But he also had to face opponents. For example, tribal nations in South Dakota have banned him from their lands over comments he made alleging cartel activity on tribal territory.
