.
omeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that the US is weighing an expansion of its travel ban to more than 30 countries, with President Donald Trump still reviewing which nations to include. PHOTO: ANADOLU
WASHINGTON:
United States President Donald Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the official responsible for enforcing the administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown, multiple media reports said.
The decision follows controversy surrounding Noem’s congressional testimony and her management of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Reports said Trump was particularly displeased after Noem stated that the president had approved a $220 million DHS advertising campaign in which she was prominently featured.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin would replace Noem as DHS chief on March 31, subject to Senate confirmation. Trump described Mullin as a strong supporter of his immigration policy and said he would work to strengthen border security.
Trump also announced that Noem would be appointed special envoy for a planned Western Hemisphere security initiative called “The Shield of the Americas.” He praised her performance, saying she had achieved “numerous and spectacular results,” particularly on border enforcement.
Noem’s tenure as DHS chief drew bipartisan criticism. Lawmakers questioned the immigration enforcement campaign that targeted undocumented migrants and led to violent clashes in some areas. Several legislators criticised the agency after federal agents shot two US citizens during operations in Minneapolis.
Opposition lawmakers said Noem’s response to the shootings was controversial after she described the victims as “domestic terrorists” before investigations were completed. Some Republican and Democratic members of Congress demanded accountability over the incident.
At a Senate hearing, lawmakers also questioned the $220 million DHS advertising contract awarded without a standard bidding process. Critics alleged that the campaign disproportionately promoted Noem’s public image. Trump later said he had not personally approved the advertisement project.
The immigration enforcement policy under Noem focused on mass deportations of undocumented migrants, a core element of Trump’s administration. Officials said federal agents conducted sweeps across several cities, though deportation targets were reportedly not fully met.
Trump’s immigration policy remains a central political issue as Democrats in Congress continue to oppose additional DHS funding, demanding reforms to enforcement operations.
