US Senate confirmed former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary on Saturday. The confirmation vote was 59 to 34 in the Republican-majority Senate.
Noem, a strong supporter of Trump’s immigration stance, voiced her approval for the president’s immigration policies, referring to illegal immigration as an “invasion” during her confirmation hearing last month. Her appointment is happening as Trump ups his game in cracking down on immigration, with a promise to deport record numbers of immigrants and enhance border security following criticisms of former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
As Homeland Security Secretary, Noem would manage a list of key responsibilities that include managing the employees under the 260,000 workers across the Department of Homeland Security, which has its responsibilities in border security, deportations, legal immigration processes, emergency response, cybersecurity, and the US Coast Guard and Secret Service.
During her governorship in South Dakota, a state geographically closer to Canada than Mexico, she was a strong border security advocate. She had previously sent National Guard troops from South Dakota to Texas to bolster its boarder enforcement operations, including an infamous 2021 effort funded by a Republican billionaire.
During the confirmation hearing, Noem underlined the priority to deport criminal offenders and persons with final deportation orders. She gave no assurances over the safety of farm workers who are undocumented in agriculture.
Noem’s family ranch has used guest workers for decades. That practice raises questions from some conservative groups regarding the use of guest worker visas and the potential effects on wages and technological progress in the sector.
