Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faces intense scrutiny from Democrats on Thursday as she testifies before the House Committee on Homeland Security about her agency's hard-line approach to immigration.
It has been months since Noem last appeared in Congress, but immigration enforcement operations have become increasingly contentious, with federal agents and activists frequently clashing over her department's tactics. The number of people in immigration detention has skyrocketed under Trump's administration, which claims the country is under an invasion. The administration has also continued to remove migrants to countries they are not from.
Noem's testimony will focus heavily on immigration, as she takes a leading role in shaping the Republican administration's policy area. Democrats are likely to grill her over criticism that immigration enforcement agents have erroneously detained and arrested American citizens in their rush to deport as many people in the country illegally as possible.
Noem's department is also under fire for limiting access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, with a number of Democratic committee members part of a lawsuit accusing her and the department of such actions. The department has received nearly $165 billion in funding to carry out its mass deportations agenda and secure the border.
The hearing comes as a federal judge investigates whether Noem should face a contempt charge over flights carrying migrants to El Salvador. With Trump's signature policy area at the forefront, Thursday's appearance is likely to be intense, with Democrats seeking answers on her agency's tactics and the administration's approach to immigration.
Noem will not be alone in testifying, as Joseph Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Michael Glasheen, operations director of the national security branch of the FBI, are also scheduled to appear. The lack of FBI Director Kash Patel has raised eyebrows, with some speculating that he may have been replaced or opted out due to the high-profile nature of the hearing.
The Worldwide Threats hearing, usually held annually, provides an opportunity for Congress to ask agency leaders about threats facing the US and what their agencies are doing to address them. However, given the contentious nature of immigration enforcement under Noem's leadership, Thursday's appearance is likely to be more focused on her agency's approach than in years past.
It has been months since Noem last appeared in Congress, but immigration enforcement operations have become increasingly contentious, with federal agents and activists frequently clashing over her department's tactics. The number of people in immigration detention has skyrocketed under Trump's administration, which claims the country is under an invasion. The administration has also continued to remove migrants to countries they are not from.
Noem's testimony will focus heavily on immigration, as she takes a leading role in shaping the Republican administration's policy area. Democrats are likely to grill her over criticism that immigration enforcement agents have erroneously detained and arrested American citizens in their rush to deport as many people in the country illegally as possible.
Noem's department is also under fire for limiting access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, with a number of Democratic committee members part of a lawsuit accusing her and the department of such actions. The department has received nearly $165 billion in funding to carry out its mass deportations agenda and secure the border.
The hearing comes as a federal judge investigates whether Noem should face a contempt charge over flights carrying migrants to El Salvador. With Trump's signature policy area at the forefront, Thursday's appearance is likely to be intense, with Democrats seeking answers on her agency's tactics and the administration's approach to immigration.
Noem will not be alone in testifying, as Joseph Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Michael Glasheen, operations director of the national security branch of the FBI, are also scheduled to appear. The lack of FBI Director Kash Patel has raised eyebrows, with some speculating that he may have been replaced or opted out due to the high-profile nature of the hearing.
The Worldwide Threats hearing, usually held annually, provides an opportunity for Congress to ask agency leaders about threats facing the US and what their agencies are doing to address them. However, given the contentious nature of immigration enforcement under Noem's leadership, Thursday's appearance is likely to be more focused on her agency's approach than in years past.
, they're literally mistaking migrants for invaders and putting innocent people in detention centers! I'm talking about American citizens who are being wrongly detained and deported. It's insane that Noem's department is getting away with this and the FBI isn't doing more to stop it. And now they're not even having the actual FBI Director testify, weirdly enough. 
The lack of transparency is staggering. I'm so angry about this, but at the same time I feel like we need to keep pushing for change. Maybe if we all raise our voices and demand answers, we can start making a difference. 
. I hope that comes through during the hearing, because that's what America is all about – finding common ground and working towards a better future for everyone 
Immigration is such a mess right now 
The number of people in detention has skyrocketed and it's not even clear who's being targeted 
Trump's admin is all about deporting as many ppl as possible, but what about those who are actually trying to make a life for themselves? 
It's not fair that they're being treated like criminals 
instead of human beings 
We need more compassion and empathy, not more border walls and militarization 
. We gotta find a way to balance security with compassion, you know? It's not an either/or situation 
. And yeah, let's talk about the money too 
- $165 billion is crazy talk 
! We need to ask ourselves if this kind of spending is really making our country safer or just lining the pockets of a few... 
.
They've got skills and stuff that we could use. And who cares if some agents make a few mistakes along the way? It's not like we're gonna deport an entire country or something 
. The whole 'invasion' thing is just a big ol' overreaction. We should just be welcoming to everyone, no matter where they come from.
I think it's a total mess! The fact that people are getting wrongly detained and arrested just because they're living in the country without papers is wild 
. The admin should be focusing on finding solutions, not just pushing people out 
. I don't trust her one bit 
.
. I feel for her though, she has a tough job trying to secure the border... maybe they should focus on finding solutions instead of demonizing people 
#NotMyWay. The number of people in detention has gone up so much under Trump's admin, and now they're making us question who is American and who isn't? 
. And let's not forget, she's getting paid $165 billion to do it... like that's a good use of taxpayer dollars 
. And the fact that she's getting nearly $165 billion in funding to carry out these policies is wild 
. It's not just about security or national interests, but also about human rights and treating people with dignity 
. It'll be interesting to see how the hearing plays out and if we get any answers about these policies 
The fact that FBI Director Patel isn't showing up for this hearing is fishy too... 
The lack of FBI Director Kash Patel is also weird, maybe he was replaced or didn't want to testify about it 
. These detention facilities are supposed to be for the safety and security of everyone, not just to deport as many people as possible without questioning their status. I've got a kid in school who knows someone who was wrongly detained for years because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time... it's just heartbreaking 
. And what about the impact on our communities? We're already seeing families torn apart, and now we're talking about sending people back to countries they don't even know