U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem promptly engaged in her duties by collaborating with officials from U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement to carry out raids aimed at locating illegal immigrants on her inaugural day in office.
An enforcement operation in New York City marked Noem’s initial experience with how ICE officials apprehend illegal immigrants implicated in violent crimes. In a social media update featuring footage from the raid, Noem reported witnessing officers detain an illegal alien sought for kidnapping, assault, and burglary.
“Individuals like this will continue to be removed from our streets,” she stated.
Footage from the overnight operation depicted unmarked SUVs with flashing blue and red lights, while a handcuffed suspect was escorted from an apartment building to one of the vehicles by law enforcement officers.
Noem received confirmation from the U.S. Senate with a vote of 59-34, which included support from seven Democrats who crossed party lines to endorse the former governor of South Dakota for the DHS leadership position. The agency reiterated her message in a separate post announcing the enforcement action in New York.
“We will not rest until American communities are safe. America is no longer a sanctuary for violent criminals,” the post declared.
A spokesperson for DHS informed Fox News that the early morning raid targeted “murderers, kidnappers, and individuals charged with assault and burglary.” Other federal agencies involved in the operation included the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Among those apprehended was a Dominican national who was wanted on an Interpol Red Notice for a double homicide in his native country. He had fled to the United States prior to facing charges.
Operations in New York are anticipated to persist until Friday, highlighting the dedication of Noem and White House border Czar Tom Homan to eliminating illegal immigrant criminals in sanctuary cities. Supporting their initiative is U.S. House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY), who on Monday dispatched letters to the mayors of four major sanctuary cities, inviting them to testify regarding their opposition to federal immigration enforcement.
During her confirmation hearings, Noem expressed her strong commitment to President Donald Trump’s pledge of mass deportations. When a Democratic senator urged her to endorse legislation aimed at reuniting migrant children with their parents, Noem retorted that it was the Biden-Harris administration that had lost track of over 300,000 migrant children temporarily housed in the United States.
“Senator, the Trump administration did not implement a family separation policy. They enforced a zero-tolerance policy, which mandated adherence to our laws,” Noem stated to Chris Blumenthal (D-CT). “What concerns me are the more than 300,000 children who went missing during the Biden administration.”
On Friday, ICE reported surpassing 500 apprehensions and over 300 deportations in a single day. By Monday, daily arrests had exceeded 1,100, as other federal agents from agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and ATF were authorized to assist in the arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants.
President Trump is also cognizant of the support he has among the American populace. Recent polling indicates that a significant majority of respondents favor the mass deportations proposed by Trump.
