Noem optimistic Laken Riley would still be alive if she was DHS secretary, while freshman senator Para Mayorkas
New GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno ripped the Biden administration’s immigration policies in his first Senate hearing as President-elect Trump’s nominee for DHS secretary Kristi Noem sat before the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
“Just to be clear, Laken Riley would be alive today if you were the secretary of homeland security?” Moreno asked Noem during a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Friday.
“Senator, I hope that’s true, yes,” Noem replied as the Senate debated the Laken Riley Act, aimed at preventing crimes like the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed last year by an illegal immigrant. which was sentenced to life without parole.
During his line of questioning, Moreno implemented the theme of asking Noah about Mayorka’s immigration record and whether illegal immigration statistics would continue under her watch.
Sen. Bernie Moreno pushed back on the Biden administration’s immigration policies at Kristi Noem’s DHS confirmation hearing (Getty Images)
“So, I think sometimes, in DC, we tend to overcomplicate things,” Moreno told Noem. “There’s the current Secretary of Homeland Security, so why don’t we take this opportunity to do a little job review and compare it. you? So, if you don’t mind, I’ll ask you a few questions and you can answer them. Secretary Mayorkas allowed about 400 people on the terror watch list to enter this country illegally. If you were confirmed as secretary of homeland security, how many people on the terror watch list would you let into this country?”
Noem replied that she would “work every day” to make sure the number was “zero”.
“When you look at the 382 that Joe Biden released and the policy continues, it’s shocking and needs to change immediately,” Noem said.
“Mayorokas released about 12,000 murderers. How much would you aim to let them into this country?” Moreno asked.
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Moreno was sworn in to the Senate on January 3. (Reuters)
“My goal every day would be to not allow murderers into this country,” Noem said.
“Mayors let in 16,000 rapists. How many would you aim to let them in?” Moreno continued.
“I would work to ensure that no one is allowed into this country,” Noem replied.
Moreno went on to ask Noem about the 600,000 illegal immigrants with criminal convictions released by Mayorkas, and she responded by saying that all migrants with criminal convictions would be “immediately removed.”
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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is sworn in during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on her nomination for Homeland Security Secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, January 17, 2025. (Getty)
Noem also told Moren that the practice of bringing hundreds of thousands of migrants to the United States by plane would end during her term.
“And how many illegals do you plan to accommodate in luxury hotel rooms in Manhattan, at a price of $6,000 a month?” Moreno asked.
“Clearly, senator, during this election, the American people said they don’t support it and it’s not going to be part of this new administration,” Noem said.
“I’m going to end my time with a staggering statistic and actually a challenge to the Democratic Party,” Moreno said after asking Noem to confirm other aspects of the Biden administration’s immigration policy that she would stop.
“When Mayorkas was confirmed, every single Democrat voted to confirm him, and six Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in that confirmation. If we get to a vote, hopefully, President, we could do it on Monday, because we can’t wait for any a day without you should have 100 percent, 100 senators to vote for your confirmation we have a Democratic Party that is actually serious about doing bipartisan things like securing this country and protecting our citizens.”
