Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defiantly defended the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies on Thursday during a House committee hearing, portraying migrants as a major threat faced by the nation that justifies a crackdown that has seen widespread arrests, deportations and a dizzying pace of restrictions on foreigners.
Noem, who heads the agency central to President Donald Trump’s approach to immigration, received backup from Republicans on the panel but fierce questioning from Democrats who called for her resignation. The secretary, whose testimony was interrupted by protesters calling for an end to deportations, vowed she “would not back down.”
Noem, who was testifying in front of the House Committee on Homeland Security to discuss “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland,” emphasized in her remarks how big a role she believed immigration played in those threats to the country. Her remarks, and the Democrats’ questioning, focused heavily on the Trump administration’s immigration policies, whereas in years past the hearing has centered on issues such as cybersecurity, terrorism, China and border security.
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