Department of Homeland Security Secretary-designate Kristy Nome arrives for the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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The Senate on Saturday confirmed South Dakota Gov. Kristy Nome to serve as secretary of homeland security, tasking her with implementing one of President Trump’s top priorities in his second term. : Crackdown on immigration.
Nome, a Republican, won confirmation in a 59-34 vote. She becomes the fourth person to be confirmed in Trump’s cabinet after Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Pat Hegseth, who were briefly named Friday night after Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. The Secretary of Defense was appointed.
Nome is poised to lead the department that is at the center of President Trump’s plans to crack down on immigration, including various deportation efforts, visa changes and border security measures that Trump plans to return. Several executive actions have since been signed. Office
Nome, 53, has been a vocal advocate for Trump’s immigration agenda, as she explained to senators during her confirmation hearing.
“I asked for it because I knew it was a top priority for the president,” Nome told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, explaining why he is perfect for the role.
“I knew there was going to need to be someone in this position who would do what the president did to the American people and be strong enough to get it done,” she said.
During her confirmation hearing, Nome said she would work with Trump to restore the “remain in Mexico” policy, also known as the Immigrant Protection Protocol, under which certain asylum seekers will have to wait until their court hearing dates in Mexico. Efforts to limit the number of people waiting inside US borders.
Nome also vowed to shut down the CPB One app, the app used by asylum seekers to apply for asylum with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. DHS canceled all appointments within hours of Trump’s inauguration.
has expressed support. Abolition of birthright citizenshipwhich President Trump wants to do through an executive action. Legal experts widely agree that the president does not have the power to revoke birthright citizenship through executive action, but to do so would require a constitutional amendment. A US judge has already temporarily halted the order, calling it “plainly unconstitutional”.
Noem is expected to work to implement the immigration policy devised by Tom Homan, who Trump has chosen to serve as his “border czar,” and Stephen Miller, the deputy head or The staff is a key architect of the president’s immigration agenda. He’s also likely to work with Hegseth, as several of Trump’s administration initiatives include military support for repatriation flights to DHS, building barriers along the southern border and more.
Noem will oversee more than 260,000 federal employees. In addition to overseeing immigration enforcement and disaster response agencies, Homeland Security works with the nation’s intelligence agencies to prevent terrorist threats.
