KRISTI NOEM IS TRUMP'S HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY PICK: HERE'S WHY
In a controversial pick, President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up for a second term in the Oval Office and is bringing Kristi Noem along as the Secretary of Homeland Security. Kristi Noem serves South Dakota as its Governor and has taken similar stances on immigration as Donald Trump. Her previous experience shooting her dog along with her hardline stance on refugees continue to cause waves among Americans.
Who Is Kristi Noem?
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has held the position since 2019 but has held multiple political positions representing The Mount Rushmore State since 2007.
Although she does not have traditional military experience, Noem has served on the House Armed Services Committee and as governor, maintaining the position of Commander in Chief for the South Dakota National Guard.
Noem is the first woman to be elected as South Dakota's governor, receiving an endorsement from President Donald Trump in 2018.
However, while she appeals to many voters as a real, rural-living farmer/rancher, that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been controversy.
A puppy killing scandal has been well documented, in which Noem used her 14-month-old dog Cricket for hunting.
However, the canine got free and ended up attacking her neighbor’s chickens and nipping at her. As a result, she killed the dog in a gravel pit by shooting him.
Immigration Policies
Now that she’s up for the job, it’s important to put into perspective what our nation’s likely new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leader stands for when it comes to immigration.
A noted supporter of President Donald Trump's Executive Order 13769 (Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States), Noem supported the following in 2017:
- Suspending an American refugee program for 120 days.
- Banning travel from Muslim-majority countries for 90 days into the United States.
This would prove to be controversial, as the rhetoric was seen to cast all Muslims as a threat rather than terrorists operating in such countries.
Furthermore, the Executive Order also supported detaining legal residents in the U.S. and preventing people from reentering the country that held dual citizenship.
Kristi Noem, the National Guard, and Disaster Relief
Kristi Noem began her role as governor in 2019, and during that time she was faced with responding to major flooding in southeastern South Dakota that results because of massive rainfall and streams that overflowed.
Noem has faced criticism from South Dakota residents for her response to the natural disaster, as she did not activate the South Dakota National Guard to help residents. Since then, Noem has been asked why she didn't deploy the National Guard, citing that cost was the main issue, and that help was not requested by the area's local officials.
In the weeks following the flood, Noem asked Biden to approve federal disaster relief for the residents of South Dakota, which was eventually approved.
Kristi Noem & Her Plan for Immigrants and Military Families
As Kristi Noem gears up to lead the DHS, she will likely collaborate with “border czar” Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, who have both taken hard stances on immigration.
Noem will oversee a massive agency with a $60 billion budget and responsibilities spanning Customs and Border Protection, ICE, FEMA, and the Secret Service.
Trump’s decision ensures a trusted ally will head DHS, a central agency for his domestic agenda.
The DHS has faced leadership instability in the past, with five different leaders during Trump’s first term—Noem’s appointment aims to bring stability.
Known for her tough stance on immigration, Noem has previously supported punitive measures against sanctuary cities and challenged Democratic immigration policies.
As governor, Noem clashed with indigenous tribes, among other controversies.
The appointment of Kristi Noem could bring a more militaristic approach towards using troops to enforce policies involving immigration, as well as affecting military families who have varying immigration statuses.
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