Post Reports: How Kristi Noem Transformed Immigration Enforcement

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Martine Powers
Guest: Marianne Levine, Immigration Reporter, The Washington Post

Episode Overview

This episode explores how, under the leadership of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has undergone a dramatic transformation, focusing almost exclusively on aggressive immigration enforcement. Host Martine Powers is joined by reporter Marianne Levine, who provides historical context about DHS, details Noem's rise and her influence within the Trump administration, and discusses both the controversial tactics currently in use and the burgeoning pushback from lawmakers.

Key Topics & Insights

1. The Recent Shootings and DHS Justification

• Background: Two U.S. citizens, Alex Preddy and Renee Goode, were killed by DHS officers during enforcement operations in Minneapolis, sparking national controversy.
• DHS Response: Secretary Kristi Noem categorizes these incidents as acts of "domestic terrorism," framing the enforcement as defensive actions against armed threats.
  • [00:15] Kristi Noem: "An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot to protect himself and the people around him. This individual who came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers committed an act of domestic terrorism. That's the facts."
• Controversy: Levine notes the government’s narrative, not always supported by evidence or widely accepted.

2. Transformation of DHS – Historical Context

• DHS Formation: Created post-9/11 to merge 22 agencies, addressing terrorism and also immigration and disaster management.
  • [02:28] Marianne Levine: “There was this sense after the terrorist attacks that there needed to be a single agency that could really coordinate and prevent an attack like 9/11 from happening again.”
• Evolution: Under Trump, especially during his second term, DHS' direction shifted forcefully toward immigration, reassigning officials from other governmental areas.

3. The Changing Role of ICE and Border Patrol

• ICE & CBP: Originally focused on anti-terrorism and border security; now deployed deep in the interior and into Democrat-run cities, aggressively targeting immigrants and, at times, detaining U.S. citizens.
  • [04:24] Levine: “All of government approach… going toward his mass deportation campaign. Federal government employees who are in agencies not focused on immigration being reassigned to focus on immigration.”

4. Kristi Noem’s Background & Rise

• Political Evolution: Entered Congress in 2010 as a relative moderate; became Governor of South Dakota in 2019 and adopted a more hard-line, media-forward image.
  • [06:33] Levine: "When she first got to the Hill, [Noem] was viewed as a more low key member... She's on television a lot. She's in an ad campaign, campaign for DHS, thanking Trump for securing the border."
• Media Savvy: Known for orchestrated ad campaigns and public loyalty to Trump.
  • [07:14] Noem (ad excerpt): “Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for securing our border, for deporting criminal illegal immigrants, and for putting America first.”
• COVID-19 Response: Built national fame for opposing mask mandates and sending state troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • [07:55] Noem: "I think the mandate is inappropriate for government to come in and mandate that somebody wear a mask... That's not what America is about, and it's not what South Dakota is about."
• Relationship with Trump & Lewandowski: Her selection as DHS Secretary is linked to loyalty to Trump and a strong relationship with Corey Lewandowski, her de facto chief of staff.

5. DHS Under Noem: Tactics and Resource Shifts

• Aggressive Enforcement:
  • Border Patrol agents moved from border regions into American cities, unprecedented in scale.
  • FEMA (traditionally disaster aid) reassigned to immigration enforcement.
    • [12:19] Levine: “We’re seeing people who normally work on disaster relief being reassigned to immigration efforts.”
• Mass Deportations: Federal resources redirected almost entirely to this mission.

6. Justifying Enforcement Tactics

• Narrative Control: The administration frames expanded immigration enforcement as a matter of national security, labeling non-citizens as threats regardless of criminal history.
  • [15:51] Levine: “Noem and others… have tried to frame this as a matter of public safety. They… try to paint people who are in this country here illegally as criminals... an issue of national security.”
• Reflexive Defense of Law Enforcement: Rapid, public defense of officers involved in shootings, often preceding formal investigations.
  • [17:04] Levine: “Such a jump to defend law enforcement that Noem, and also White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, have taken on that posture... at times without matching what many people are seeing in [embarrassing] videos.”

7. Legal Authority and Controversial Expansion

• Use of Force Protocols: Force is allowed only under perceived direct threat; government insists this standard has been met.
• Interior Border Patrol Operations: Legally, BP can operate within 100 miles of the border (broadly defined), but this scale/intensity is new.
  • [18:41] Levine: “Border Patrol actually has a fair amount of leeway... But it is very unusual and it's something that we really haven't seen to this extent before.”

8. Lawmakers Push Back: Impeachment and Funding Threats

• Impeachment Articles:
  • Rep. Robin Kelly introduces impeachment on grounds of obstruction (blocking Congressional access, questionable enforcement tactics, self-dealing over DHS ad spending).
  • [20:14] Levine: “... Representative Robin Kelly of Illinois introduced articles of impeachment on three grounds...”
• Democratic Support: Over 130 House Democrats back impeachment; chances are slim in GOP-controlled House.
• Funding Battle: Democrats threaten government shutdown unless stricter guardrails on DHS approach are enacted.

9. Leadership Shake-Ups within DHS

• Greg Bovino Replacement: Trump administration replaces him (face of enforcement in Minneapolis) with Tom Homan, seeking a potential shift in tactics and outreach to local officials.
  • [22:41] Levine: “The fact that Tom Homan... is coming in to Minneapolis, is a sign that the White House wants to change direction.”

10. Outlook: Uncertainty and Continued Scrutiny

• Ongoing Investigations: Noem will face Senate questioning in March.
• Possible De-escalation: Administration signal desire for cooperation with local Minnesota leaders.
  • [23:59] Levine: “It seems like there's this recognition from the administration about the need to deescalate what's been happening in Minneapolis… but what that means for the actual operation remains to be seen.”
• Noem’s Future: Uncertain amid intensifying scrutiny and political controversy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kristi Noem on Minneapolis shooting (00:15):
  "An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot to protect himself and the people around him. This individual... committed an act of domestic terrorism. That's the facts."
• Levine on agency's shift (04:24):
  “All of government approach… going toward his mass deportation campaign.”
• Noem, COVID response (07:55):
  “I think the mandate is inappropriate for government to come in and mandate that somebody wear a mask... That’s not what America is about, and it’s not what South Dakota is about.”
• Levine on use of force (18:41):
  "According to... protocol, the use of force is typically something that takes place when an officer feels there is a direct threat to their life... And so I think that DHS would argue in these situations that these officers were feeling threatened... even though video evidence has really called that into question.”
• Levine on the future (23:59):
  “It seems like there’s this recognition from the administration about the need to de-escalate what’s been happening in Minneapolis... But what that means for the actual operation remains to be seen.”

Key Timestamps

• [00:15] Noem’s response to Minneapolis shooting
• [02:28] Origins and design of DHS
• [05:34] Kristi Noem’s rise and shifts in image
• [07:55] Noem on COVID and state-federal tensions
• [11:34] Resource reshuffling within DHS under Noem
• [15:51] Justifying the agency’s new tactics
• [17:04] Shift in narrative: defending law enforcement
• [18:41] Legal questions around force and jurisdiction
• [20:14] Lawmakers’ response: impeachment and funding threats
• [22:41] Leadership shake-up and future outlook
• [23:59] Efforts at de-escalation in Minneapolis

Conclusion

This episode delivers a detailed, timely look at how Kristi Noem has reshaped DHS into a force singularly focused on hardline immigration enforcement—with sweeping resource reallocations, controversial tactics, and mounting casualties. While the administration stresses public safety and invokes national security, critics and lawmakers warn of legal overreach, misapplied use of force, and political motivations. The future of both Kristi Noem's role and DHS enforcement in cities like Minneapolis remains highly uncertain, as Congressional scrutiny and public outcry intensify.