The Senate has confirmed Kristi Noem as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, placing her in charge of agencies crucial to national security and President Donald Trump’s plans to clamp down on illegal immigration. Noem, the Governor of South Dakota, received a 12-2 vote in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, with some Democratic support.
Kristi Noem, a Trump ally, will oversee the Department of Homeland Security, which includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. The department is also responsible for securing airline transportation, protecting dignitaries, responding to natural disasters, and more.
Noem’s confirmation comes as President Trump is planning major changes to the department, including involving the military in immigration enforcement and reshaping the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The new Secretary’s views on border security and immigration may impact her ability to deliver on the President’s plans to deport millions of individuals who entered the country illegally.
Despite some criticisms, Noem has pledged to faithfully execute the President’s orders and has echoed his rhetoric about the U.S. border with Mexico, saying it is a “war zone.” Her confirmation has been met with mixed reactions, with some Democrats opposing her nomination, citing concerns about her views on immigration and border enforcement.
