Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), the president-elect’s pick to lead the Homeland Security Department, told senators during her confirmation hearing Friday that border security must remain a top priority. “As a nation, we have the right and a responsibility to protect our borders against those who would do us harm,” she told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “And we must create a fair and a lawful immigration system that is efficient and effective and that reflects our values.” The nominee said President-elect Trump has a “clear mandate” from the American people to enact his ambitious border agenda, on which he campaigned heavily in 2024. She pledged to scale back humanitarian parole, limit the use of temporary immigration relief, and reinstate the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy, which would require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. The president-elect has pledged to undertake the nation’s largest deportation operation and Gov. Noem said the top focus will be on deporting immigrants who have been convicted of crimes and then those who have removal orders. “President Trump has been very clear that his priority is going to be deporting criminals, those who have broken law and perpetuated violence in our communities,” she told senators. “That will be the priority.” Senators of both parties focused on substantive issues during the drama-free hearing and Gov. Noem pledged to lead the agency in a nonpartisan manner. “I’m looking forward to working with everyone — Republicans and Democrats and everyone else in between in this country that is focused on keeping America safe and secure for our future,” she said. Gov. Noem has served as South Dakota’s chief executive since 2019. Before then, she served four terms as the state’s at-large member in the U.S. House. Watch more at c-span.org
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