U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, is reportedly shifting the blame onto her subordinates for failing to meet migrant arrest quotas and potentially damaging her rapport with Donald Trump.
According to two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials who spoke to NBC with direct knowledge of the situation, Noem and her advisor, Corey Lewandowski, attribute the failure to meet quotas to Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Rodney Scott, the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Despite these allegations, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson recently praised Noem's efforts. "The entire immigration team under President Trump is aligned in implementing his agenda, and the results speak for themselves: the border is secure, and deportations are on the rise," she stated.
Lyons reportedly countered the accusations by blaming Lewandowski for decisions regarding detention centers, dismissing any suggestion that he was responsible for the lack of space to hold more immigrants.
Meanwhile, Scott has allegedly been sidelined from key discussions on CBP operations in major U.S. cities and excluded from social gatherings attended by other top DHS officials. NBC reports that DHS superiors have warned Scott that his job might be at risk.
ICE is currently averaging fewer than 1,000 arrests daily, significantly below the target of 3,000 set in May by White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller.
On Friday, Noem asserted that "under President Trump's leadership," the Department of Homeland Security is dismantling transnational organized crime, stopping the influx of deadly drugs, and curbing illegal immigration. She emphasized that this approach is restoring "sanity" to the immigration system and safeguarding the United States' critical infrastructure from cyberattacks.
"The American people trust DHS to remain vigilant, agile, and responsive. We will never relent, never waver, and never retreat," she added.
Noem followed up with a second tweet expressing her gratitude for appearing before the House Homeland Security Committee. "DHS will continue fulfilling President Trump's promise to make America safe again," she stressed.
Noem's statements come after a particularly tense congressional hearing, where she appeared before a subcommittee to discuss global threats to national security. During her testimony, she intensified the immigration debate by declaring that ICE and Border Patrol agents are "doing God’s work," a statement publicly applauded by ICE.
Noem criticized those who oppose deportations and immigration enforcement operations, accusing them of "defending lawbreakers" and endangering the agents.
Key Questions About DHS and Immigration Policies
What are the recent allegations against Kristi Noem?
Kristi Noem is alleged to have blamed her subordinates for not meeting migrant arrest quotas, potentially affecting her relationship with Donald Trump.
How has the White House responded to these allegations?
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson praised Noem's work, stating that the immigration team under President Trump is united in implementing his agenda, with secure borders and increasing deportations as proof of success.
What is the current daily arrest rate of ICE?
ICE is averaging fewer than 1,000 arrests daily, which is significantly below the daily target of 3,000 set by the White House.