What to Anticipate at Kristi Noem’s Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Homeland Security

Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is likely to face questions concerning her qualifications, as well as her strategies for securing the southern border and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants.

The DHS includes agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Noem’s confirmation hearing is set to take place at 9 a.m. on January 17 before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Some political analysts expressed surprise at Noem’s nomination, questioning her level of experience for the role.

Noem has a history of public service, having worked in the South Dakota State Legislature from 2007 to 2011 and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2018, where she was a member of the Armed Services and Agriculture committees. She became South Dakota’s first female governor in 2019 and secured a second term in 2022. Additionally, she has been a strong proponent of the Second Amendment.

Her alignment with Trump and her reputation as a pro-border security advocate have made her a favored figure among Republican voters.

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Noem, perceived as a potential candidate for the 2024 presidential race, has made the border crisis a major issue during her governorship.

The Biden administration is believed to have seen the entry of approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants, coinciding with reported spikes in crime and drug trafficking.

Polling shows that securing the border is a key concern for voters, prompting Trump to emphasize it as a pivotal element of his 2024 campaign for the presidency. He promised to secure the border and initiate one of the most extensive deportation efforts in U.S. history if he regains office.

She was the first to send guardsmen to the southern border almost four years ago at the requesting of Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

In January 2024, while announcing the most recent deployment of guardsmen to Texas during a joint session of the state Legislature, Noem criticized the mass migration issue under the Biden administration.

If confirmed for her new role, Noem would be involved in implementing Trump’s immigration policies.

Trump’s associates have mentioned the possibility of reinstating Title 42, the public health measure used for deportations during the COVID-19 pandemic, which would enable the rapid expulsion of migrants at the border, provided a health threat is identified.

Another policy that Trump is likely to bring back is Remain in Mexico, which mandates that asylum seekers wait in Mexico while their applications are processed.

On January 16, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee conducted a hearing regarding the legality of reinstating this policy and passed a resolution along largely party lines affirming that the president has the authority to secure the border using existing laws.

Civil Rights

At her confirmation hearing, Noem might also face scrutiny regarding the protection of civil rights in the enforcement of Trump’s border and deportation policies.