Kristi Noem vows to make border 'top priority' at DHS

During her opening statement at her confirmation hearing on Friday, Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, vowed to prioritize the long-neglected border crisis.

Under President Joe Biden's administration, there have been over 10 million nationwide encounters with illegal immigrants, ramping up crime and costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

'As a nation we have the right and responsibility to secure our borders against those who do us harm.'

"Being safe within our borders here in America is critical," Noem said in her opening statement. "And yet Americans feel less safe than they have felt in decades."

"President-elect Trump is going to change that," Noem added.

As Noem pointed out, the Biden administration's management of the border has left many Americans feeling unsafe. Because of the mismanagement, immigration was one of the top priorities for voters going into the 2024 election, resulting in Trump's overwhelming electoral victory on November 5.

"Border security must remain a top priority," Noem said. "As a nation we have the right and responsibility to secure our borders against those who do us harm. And we must create a fair and a lawful immigration system that is efficient and is effective and that reflects our values."

Noem also emphasized the importance of emboldening immigration agencies to ensure they have the proper resources to enforce the law.

"If confirmed as secretary, I'll ensure that our exceptional, extraordinary Border Patrol agents have all the tools and resources and support that they need to carry out their mission effectively," Noem said. "The same is true of my commitment to the outstanding men and women of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."

"They are responsible for apprehending, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants, and getting criminal aliens off of our streets and out of the country will help American communities to be safer again," Noem added. "The bravery and the dedication of the Border Patrol and ICE are unmatched, and I will restore dignity to their work."

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