Trump picks South Dakota governor as next Homeland Security chief

US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to sources familiar with the decision. 

The announcement was made official in a statement from Trump on November 12, Caliber.Az reports, citing US media.

"Kristi has been very strong on Border Security," Trump stated. "She will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the Border, and will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries."

Noem’s appointment signals a commitment to hardline immigration policies, with key figures like Stephen Miller and Tom Homan set to hold senior roles in the administration. Both are known for their tough stances on immigration, suggesting Trump’s renewed focus on cracking down on border security and immigration enforcement.

During Trump’s first term, the DHS was marked by significant turnover, with five different leaders, only two of whom were Senate-confirmed. The department, which has a $60 billion budget and oversees hundreds of thousands of employees, is a central pillar of Trump's domestic agenda, particularly concerning immigration.

Kristi Noem, who previously served as a U.S. Representative from South Dakota, will now lead a sprawling agency responsible for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Secret Service, among other critical functions.

Though Noem does not represent a border state, she has a history of adopting tough immigration positions. As a congressional candidate in 2010, she supported Senate Republicans' efforts to block an Obama administration lawsuit against an Arizona immigration law. She has also called for punitive measures against Democratic-led "sanctuary cities" that refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities during Trump's first term.

Noem's tenure as governor was marked by tensions with indigenous tribes in South Dakota. She notably clashed with tribal leaders, accusing them of prioritizing profits from drug cartels over the welfare of their communities. These comments led to her being banned from certain tribal lands, a contentious issue as the DHS secretary's role includes oversight of tribal affairs.

The selection of Noem highlights Trump's focus on loyalty and alignment with his immigration policies as he prepares for his return to the White House. With immigration hardliners set to take senior roles, the administration is poised to take an aggressive approach to border security and enforcement in the coming term.

By Khagan Isayev