Kristi Noem Officially Approved as DHS Secretary
The ex-governor of South Dakota is set to assist in implementing Trump’s immigration agenda.
TroibNews 
The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday, approving President Donald Trump’s nomination and adding another Cabinet member committed to aiding his stringent illegal immigration policies.
The bipartisan vote concluded with a tally of 59-34, with no Republican senators voting against Noem's nomination.
Her confirmation comes on the heels of the Senate's approval of Marco Rubio as secretary of State and Pete Hegseth as the head of the Department of Defense. Republican leaders are striving to fulfill their commitment to advancing the confirmation of the president's Cabinet nominees, despite some Democratic objections that have slowed the process.
Noem's appointment to the DHS surprised some observers, considering her lack of a law enforcement background and her absence from the committee that oversees the department during her four terms in the House. However, she garnered significant support from influential figures such as Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s 2016 campaign chief, and border czar Tom Homan, both of whom advocated for her nomination.
Her loyalty to Trump, along with her support of his proposals to tighten border security and deport undocumented immigrants, played a crucial role in securing her position. However, some outside allies have interpreted her appointment as a sign that immigration policy will predominantly be managed by the White House, under the leadership of Homan and Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. This could enable Noem to dedicate more attention to the various agencies within the extensive department, such as FEMA, TSA, and the Secret Service.
Noem achieved confirmation following a relatively uneventful hearing earlier this month, where she faced questions from both Republican and Democratic senators for three hours. She pledged to assist the president in reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which mandates that asylum seekers await their hearings in Mexico. Successfully implementing this policy would require the administration to secure an agreement with Mexico, which may present challenges due to Trump's previous actions towards the country.
“President Trump was elected with a clear mandate. He needs to achieve this mission because two-thirds of Americans support his immigration and border policies, including the majority of Hispanic Americans,” Noem stated during her confirmation hearing earlier this month.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
The bipartisan vote concluded with a tally of 59-34, with no Republican senators voting against Noem's nomination.
Her confirmation comes on the heels of the Senate's approval of Marco Rubio as secretary of State and Pete Hegseth as the head of the Department of Defense. Republican leaders are striving to fulfill their commitment to advancing the confirmation of the president's Cabinet nominees, despite some Democratic objections that have slowed the process.
Noem's appointment to the DHS surprised some observers, considering her lack of a law enforcement background and her absence from the committee that oversees the department during her four terms in the House. However, she garnered significant support from influential figures such as Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s 2016 campaign chief, and border czar Tom Homan, both of whom advocated for her nomination.
Her loyalty to Trump, along with her support of his proposals to tighten border security and deport undocumented immigrants, played a crucial role in securing her position. However, some outside allies have interpreted her appointment as a sign that immigration policy will predominantly be managed by the White House, under the leadership of Homan and Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. This could enable Noem to dedicate more attention to the various agencies within the extensive department, such as FEMA, TSA, and the Secret Service.
Noem achieved confirmation following a relatively uneventful hearing earlier this month, where she faced questions from both Republican and Democratic senators for three hours. She pledged to assist the president in reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which mandates that asylum seekers await their hearings in Mexico. Successfully implementing this policy would require the administration to secure an agreement with Mexico, which may present challenges due to Trump's previous actions towards the country.
“President Trump was elected with a clear mandate. He needs to achieve this mission because two-thirds of Americans support his immigration and border policies, including the majority of Hispanic Americans,” Noem stated during her confirmation hearing earlier this month.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
