$165B Clash: Noem Faces Heat Over Deportation Agenda
Kristi Noem faces Congress as Democrats target her immigration enforcement tactics amid a $165B deportation plan and rising nationwide controversy.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who heads the central agency for President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda, is expected to face tough questions from Democrats on Thursday, as she is the public face of the Republican administration's hard-line approach to immigration.
It has been several months since Noem last appeared before Congress in May. Since then, immigration enforcement operations, particularly in Los Angeles and Chicago, have become increasingly controversial, with federal agents and activists frequently clashing over her department's tactics.
Noem is testifying before the House Committee on Homeland Security to discuss "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland," which in past years has focused on issues like cybersecurity, terrorism, China, and border security. Noem has rarely appeared before Congress while leading Trump's signature policy areas, so Thursday's appearance is likely to focus more on immigration.
Trump returned to power in January with a mandate to reshape immigration in the U.S., claiming the country was under attack.
In the months since, the number of people in immigration detention has skyrocketed; the administration has continued to deport migrants to countries they are not from; and, after an Afghan national was accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers, Noem's department has significantly increased vetting and screening of immigrants into the U.S.
The worldwide threats hearing, which typically takes place annually, is an opportunity for members of Congress to question leaders of the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the National Counterterrorism Center about the threats facing the U.S. and what their agencies are doing to address them.
Noem's department is under particular scrutiny because in July, Congress passed legislation totaling approximately $165 billion to carry out his massive deportation agenda and secure the border. The department is receiving more money to hire 10,000 more deportation officers, complete the wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and detain and expel foreigners from the country.
The secretary's appearance comes as a federal judge is investigating whether she should face contempt charges for flights carrying migrants to El Salvador.
Noem will likely also have to respond to criticism from Democrats who accuse Immigration Enforcement agents of wrongly detaining and arresting American citizens in their rush to deport as many illegals as possible. Homeland Security maintains that agents conducting Immigration Enforcement operations do not target or arrest American citizens for immigration reasons, although they say they have arrested Americans for allegedly interfering with enforcement operations.
And several Democratic members of the committee are part of a lawsuit accusing Noem and the department of limiting their access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities.
Thursday's hearing also included Joseph Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Michael Glasheen, operations director of the FBI's National Security Branch.
Previous hearings included questions on cybersecurity, China, chemical security, and drones. Under President Joe Biden, when there was a surge in migration at the southern border, Republicans frequently questioned the Democratic administration's handling of border security.
When the hearing was announced in September, the Republican committee chair said that in addition to Noem and Kent, FBI Director Kash Patel would also attend. However, Glasheen is representing the FBI.
Thank you for reading this content.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
