Kristi Noem was confirmed by the Senate as US President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security secretary on Saturday, putting into position a key member of the Republican’s cabinet as he launches a wide-ranging immigration crackdown.
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Noem, who was governor of South Dakota, shares Trump’s hardline immigration views and called illegal immigration an “invasion” during a confirmation hearing earlier this month.
She was confirmed by a vote of 59 to 34 in the Republican-led Senate.
Trump recaptured the White House promising to deport record numbers of immigrants in the US illegally, criticising Democratic former US president Joe Biden for high levels of illegal immigration during his presidency.
Trump issued an array of executive orders after taking office on January 20 that aim to tighten border security and power his deportation drive, and has rolled out a raft of restrictive policies.
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Trump signs series of executive orders on first day back in White House
Trump signs series of executive orders on first day back in White House
Noem will take over the 260,000-employee US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees border security, deportations and legal immigration paperwork, as well as emergency response, cybersecurity and the US coastguard and Secret Service.