Kristi Noem has pledged to overhaul immigration and secure the southern border
FILE PHOTO: Kristi Noem. © John Lamparski / Getty Images Former South Dakota governor Kristi Noem has been confirmed as the head of the US Department of Homeland Security following a Senate vote on Saturday. The 59-34 vote saw bipartisan support for Noem, who was nominated by President Donald Trump shortly after his victory in November’s presidential election. After his inauguration last week, Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at strengthening border security, including declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and ending automatic birthright citizenship for children born to parents who are not lawful permanent US residents. Trump has previously praised Noem’s “very strong” background in border security, citing her record as governor of South Dakota as a key reason for her appointment. READ MORE: Trump taps border-control hardliner for key position During her Senate confirmation hearing, Noem emphasized her commitment to securing the US-Mexico border and addressing immigration challenges. “We must secure our borders against illegal trafficking and immigration… Getting criminal aliens off of our streets and out of the country will help American communities be safer again,” she told lawmakers. Noem added that her experience as governor of South Dakota had prepared her to act on many national security concerns, including the US-Mexico border crisis and natural disasters.
She also said her stance aligned with Trump’s campaign promises to take decisive action on illegal immigration. After her confirmation, Noem pledged to prioritize fixing what she called America’s “broken immigration system.” The 52-year-old, who had governed South Dakota since 2019, has built a reputation as a tough advocate for border security. While she was once considered as a potential running mate for Trump, her political career faced brief controversy after the release of a memoir, No Going Back, in which she admitted killing her 14-month-old dog. As head of the Department of Homeland Security, Noem will oversee areas such as immigration, customs enforcement, emergency management, and security services. She is the fourth member of Trump’s administration to receive Senate approval, following Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, Marco Rubio as secretary of state, and John Ratcliffe as CIA director.
