On Sunday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” to talk about the southern border, illegal immigration, leaks coming out of DHS, and the Trump administration’s progress to date in dealing with the border crisis.
“I plan to use every single one of them to make sure that we’re following the law, that we are following the procedures in place to keep people safe, and that we’re making sure we’re following through on what President Trump has promised — that he’s going to make America safe again,” Noem said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
The comments came as DHS has been administering polygraph tests to its personnel to determine who may be leaking information to the media about its ongoing immigration raids, an agency spokesperson confirmed to CBS News Saturday.
Noem said on Sunday that the tests will continue, while pledging that the leakers will be prosecuted — and could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Wherever the leaks are coming from, the results have included activists showing up to interfere with ICE raids, and it’s only a matter of time before that gets out of hand.
Secretary Noem also touted the rather dramatic drop-off in the number of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border.
Noem, who was confirmed and sworn in as DHS secretary in late January, touted the administration’s work on the border so far, saying “we’ve seen incredible progress” since Mr. Trump took office. She noted that the progress can be built upon, including by working with the Mexican government to “make sure we not only have the enforcement mission at the border, but south of the border, and make sure we’re going after these cartels.”
The DHS secretary argued that due to the Trump administration’s tariffs, imposed last week and later delayed on Canada and Mexico, “we’re seeing them wanting to be better partners with us to keep our people safe.”
Also, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a new acting director.
Noem also announced Sunday that Todd Lyons will be serving as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who she said has a long history with border czar Tom Homan. Madison Sheahan will serve deputy secretary, she said.
With President Trump’s support, I am appointing new ICE leadership to deliver results that President Trump and the American people rightfully demand: Todd Lyons will serve as Acting ICE Director and Madison Sheahan as Deputy Director of ICE.
Securing the border, eliminating the criminal cartels, and halting the flow of drugs, especially fentanyl, were keystones of President Trump’s 2024 campaign, in addition to being areas in which the Biden administration conspicuously failed.
To be fair, there are many areas in which the Biden administration conspicuously failed.
See Related: NEW: DHS Leakers Identified, Consequences Incoming
In the interview, Secretary Noem also noted that the effort to secure the border and repatriate illegal immigrants may be encountering some logistical problems, not the least of which is the number of beds available for illegal aliens awaiting repatriation. It would seem that stepping up the number and tempo of repatriation flights would be in order, and while most of us wouldn’t care to see women and children so housed, for the many gang members and known criminals that are among the first wave of detainees, it would seem that some old Army tents surrounded by barbed wire would be good enough.
Attempted border crossings are currently at a 25-year low. Secretary Noem isn’t the first Trump administration official to take to the legacy media to point this out, and she won’t be the last. This isn’t about counting coup; it’s about letting people know that it’s all working, and that’s worth doing.
