Kristi Noem's year-long tenure as homeland security secretary has been plagued by controversies, including legally dubious deportations, taxpayer-funded publicity campaigns, and false claims about US citizens. Her aggressive immigration crackdown has prompted protests and lawsuits.
Recently, Noem described two US citizens killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis as involved in 'domestic terrorism'—assertions that independent analyses and state officials said the footage did not support. This sparked bipartisan pressure on her leadership and a drop in public support.
Human rights groups have condemned several deportations carried out under Noem's watch, questioning their legality. Meanwhile, her department has faced scrutiny over the use of public funds for promotional activities.
