South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, nominated by Donald Trump to helm the Department of Homeland Security, assured senators of her commitment to aggressively implement the president’s immigration agenda.
Previously a U.S. congresswoman and now in her second term as governor, Noem has been selected to oversee Trump’s initiatives on illegal immigration and border security, which are expected to emphasize mass deportations and stricter border access.
(wbaltv.com) Noem is set to take over from Alejandro Mayorkas, the outgoing Secretary, targeted by Republican critics furious over the surge of migrants at the southern border, leading to his impeachment in early 2024.
Key points from Noem’s confirmation hearing included:
Noem expressed her intention to completely reverse Mayorkas’ policies, vowing to diligently implement Trump’s strategies to diminish illegal immigration and deport millions.
Among her commitments, she included the termination of CBP One, an app utilized by the Biden administration for assisting asylum-seekers upon entry into the U.S. Additionally, she aimed to limit the use of humanitarian parole, reduce temporary immigration protections for nationals from unstable countries, and reinstate a previous Trump policy requiring asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico pending their U.S. court hearings.
Prioritizing the deportation of migrants with criminal histories, Noem indicated that her next focus would be those individuals holding final deportation orders.
There was intense dialogue regarding the future of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), amid Republican concerns that it has deviated from its core mission. Some within the Republican party, along with conservative advocates, have called for significant cuts to the agency’s role, particularly its involvement in countering misinformation.
Created in 2018 under Trump’s administration, CISA operates independently within the Department of Homeland Security, tasked with safeguarding critical national infrastructure, including power, financial institutions, and electoral systems. The agency has faced substantial backlash from conservatives who allege it has coerced social media platforms into censoring conservative viewpoints.
Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, requested Noem’s assistance in scrutinizing CISA. She affirmed her willingness to collaborate with Johnson to rein in the agency and criticized its operations during the pandemic.
In response to the agency’s defense, CISA Director Jen Easterly stated that the agency has never engaged in censorship.
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https://www.wbaltv.com/article/kristi-noem-dhs-confirmation-hearing/63454783
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