President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as his secretary of Homeland Security. Noem, a Trump loyalist, has experience deploying her state’s National Guard to the southern border and is expected to work closely with his newly appointed “border czar” to secure the border. The appointment, which requires Senate confirmation, reflects Trump’s focus on cracking down on illegal immigration. Noem, a rancher, farmer, and small-business owner, has served as South Dakota’s congresswoman and first female governor.
Noem’s nomination will give her a pivotal role in curbing illegal border crossings, a key issue for the Trump administration. Illegal border crossings were a central focus of Trump’s campaign, and Noem’s appointment is part of a broader strategy that includes the selection of other conservative hardliners, such as former Border Patrol agent Tom Homan and immigration adviser Stephen Miller, to oversee immigration policy. Noem has also faced controversy, including backlash over her admission of shooting her dog and false claims about meeting North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
In her role as governor, Noem has pushed a conservative agenda, including signing an abortion “trigger law” banning the procedure in certain circumstances. She has also faced criticism from native American tribes in South Dakota for accusing tribal leaders of profiting from drug cartels. The nomination of Noem comes after House Republicans impeached President Joe Biden’s Homeland Security secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, earlier this year over his handling of border security.
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