Senate On Saturday, she voted to confirm South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, making her one-fourth of President Donald Trump’s nominees to win the chamber’s nod.
The vote was 59–34, with all Republicans present to vote yes. Noem was expected to be comfortably confirmed, facing significant problems during his confirmation hearing. Her nomination advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and State Affairs Committee on a 13-2 vote. Only two Democrats voted against her.
Noem becomes the fourth president Donald Trump The nominees were confirmed, behind Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Kristi Noem defeats Senate confirmation, advancing to final vote for DHS role
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will lead the Department of Homeland Security at a time when securing the border and tackling illegal immigration are top priorities for the new administration. ((Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images))
Noem will lead the department in time to secure the border and resolve the fighting illegal immigration are the main priorities for the new administration. The administration has taken a number of actions to secure the border, including deploying the military, restarting wall construction and ending the Biden-era parole program.
Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched deportation operations across the country to fulfill Trump’s promise of a “historic” operation.
The Department of Homeland Security has released a series of memos since Trump’s inauguration, ordering parole reviews and expanding officials’ ability to quickly deport illegal immigrants from the US who recently arrived. These letters were signed by Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman.
Trump DHS pick Noem vows to end controversial app migrants use on ‘Day One’
At her confirmation hearing, Noem pointed to other parts of the homeland security mission, including cybersecurity, disaster relief and counterterrorism.
As governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem pledged in 2021 not to take in any more migrants from the Biden administration and also deployed the National Guard to the Texas border. ((Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images))
“We have to be vigilant and proactive and innovative to protect the homeland,” she said. “The challenges ahead are extremely significant and we need to secure our borders against illegal trade and immigration. We need to protect our critical infrastructure to make sure we are protected from cyber attacks, respond to natural disasters and also terrorism.”
However, she emphasized that border security is a “top priority.”
ICE conducted a series of raids across the US this week. (X/ @billmelugin_)
“As a nation, we have a right and a responsibility to secure our borders from those who would do us harm. And we must create a fair and legal immigration system that is efficient and effective, and that reflects our values,” she said.
As governor, she promised no more migrants from the Biden administration in 2021, and also deployed the National Guard to the Texas border. She also has experience with disaster response, working with federal officials to deal with flooding that hit the state in June.
At her hearing, Noem also asked how she would work with border czar Tom Homan, who has been tapped to lead the deportation effort and secure the border.
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Noah answered Saying that she and Homan “work very well together and talk and communicate all the time. And we’ll be working together every day when we’re in our positions under the new administration. And I would say there’s no authority to be the authority Planned to take me away from the department or myself if I’m in stakes.
Fox News’ Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
