Mar 08 2025 3 mins
Kristi Noem, the newly confirmed Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has been at the forefront of several significant developments in the last few days. On January 25, the Senate confirmed her as the 8th Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security with a 59-34 vote, marking a pivotal moment in her career and the Trump administration's national security team[1].
Noem, a former governor of South Dakota and a close ally of President Donald Trump, has quickly immersed herself in the department's core missions. In her first month, she has overseen several key initiatives aimed at securing the U.S. borders and enforcing immigration policies. Under her leadership, ICE arrests of criminal aliens have doubled, and arrests of fugitives at large have tripled. Single-day border apprehensions have hit a 15-year low, plummeting 94% since President Trump took office[4].
One of her notable actions has been the deputization of various federal and state agencies, including the Texas National Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Marshals, to assist in immigration operations. Additionally, she has frozen all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and has enforced the Laken Riley Act, which mandates federal detention of illegal aliens accused of serious crimes[4].
Noem has also been involved in high-profile operations, such as riding with ICE agents in New York City to arrest a ringleader of the Tren de Aragua gang. Her administration has also begun detaining illegal aliens, including violent criminals, at Guantanamo Bay, with 176 individuals already returned to Venezuela, 125 of whom were violent criminals[4].
Recently, Secretary Noem praised President Trump’s joint address to Congress, highlighting the administration's achievements in reducing illegal border crossings and increasing ICE arrests. She applauded the president's commitment to border security and called on Congress to pass more funding for the construction of the border wall and mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens[3].
Despite these efforts, the Trump administration's immigration crackdown has faced logistical and financial challenges. Plans to use military aircraft for deportations have been canceled due to inefficiency and high costs, and the use of Guantanamo Bay to house detainees has also been questioned by officials[2].
Noem's swearing-in ceremony was conducted at the home of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, following her resignation as the governor of South Dakota. Her lieutenant governor, Larry Rhoden, has succeeded her as the state's 34th governor[1].
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem is set to play a crucial role in implementing President Trump's immigration and border security policies, which are expected to remain a focal point of the administration's agenda. Her actions and decisions will continue to shape the department's approach to national security, border enforcement, and immigration.
Noem, a former governor of South Dakota and a close ally of President Donald Trump, has quickly immersed herself in the department's core missions. In her first month, she has overseen several key initiatives aimed at securing the U.S. borders and enforcing immigration policies. Under her leadership, ICE arrests of criminal aliens have doubled, and arrests of fugitives at large have tripled. Single-day border apprehensions have hit a 15-year low, plummeting 94% since President Trump took office[4].
One of her notable actions has been the deputization of various federal and state agencies, including the Texas National Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Marshals, to assist in immigration operations. Additionally, she has frozen all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and has enforced the Laken Riley Act, which mandates federal detention of illegal aliens accused of serious crimes[4].
Noem has also been involved in high-profile operations, such as riding with ICE agents in New York City to arrest a ringleader of the Tren de Aragua gang. Her administration has also begun detaining illegal aliens, including violent criminals, at Guantanamo Bay, with 176 individuals already returned to Venezuela, 125 of whom were violent criminals[4].
Recently, Secretary Noem praised President Trump’s joint address to Congress, highlighting the administration's achievements in reducing illegal border crossings and increasing ICE arrests. She applauded the president's commitment to border security and called on Congress to pass more funding for the construction of the border wall and mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens[3].
Despite these efforts, the Trump administration's immigration crackdown has faced logistical and financial challenges. Plans to use military aircraft for deportations have been canceled due to inefficiency and high costs, and the use of Guantanamo Bay to house detainees has also been questioned by officials[2].
Noem's swearing-in ceremony was conducted at the home of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, following her resignation as the governor of South Dakota. Her lieutenant governor, Larry Rhoden, has succeeded her as the state's 34th governor[1].
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem is set to play a crucial role in implementing President Trump's immigration and border security policies, which are expected to remain a focal point of the administration's agenda. Her actions and decisions will continue to shape the department's approach to national security, border enforcement, and immigration.