Honestly, if you’ve been following the news lately, you know the Department of Homeland Security isn’t exactly a quiet place to work. It's basically the center of the storm. Kristi Noem, the former Governor of South Dakota, has now hit the one-year mark as the new Homeland Security Secretary, and the dust hasn't settled. Not even close.
She was sworn in on January 25, 2025, by Justice Clarence Thomas. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of mass deportations, record-low border numbers, and some pretty intense shouting matches on Sunday morning talk shows. Just this morning, January 18, 2026, she was on Face the Nation defending a massive federal surge in Minneapolis.
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The Noem Doctrine: "Temporary Means Temporary"
Most people think the DHS is just about the border. It's not. But for Noem, the border is clearly the "North Star." She’s spent the last twelve months dismantling what she calls "open-border policies."
One of her biggest moves lately has been the systematic termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for multiple countries. We're talking Somalia, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia. Just a few days ago, on January 13, she officially pulled the plug on Somalia’s designation.
Her reasoning? "Temporary means temporary."
She argues that conditions in these countries have improved enough for people to go back. Critics, predictably, are losing their minds over this. They argue she’s sending people back into danger. Noem’s response is basically: "We're putting Americans first." It’s a blunt, no-nonsense approach that has become her trademark in D.C.
By the Numbers: Is the Border Actually Secure?
If you look at the latest CBP data released on January 16, 2026, the numbers are kind of staggering.
Noem is currently touting the "most secure border in history." According to the report, December 2025 saw only 30,698 encounters nationwide. To put that in perspective, that’s a 92% drop from the peak of the previous administration.
- Zero Releases: For eight straight months, the DHS has reported zero parole releases.
- Apprehensions: Southwest border apprehensions for Q1 of FY2026 were down 95% compared to the Biden-era average.
- FEMA Budget: She recently announced $1 billion in FEMA funding for Georgia, trying to balance her "tough" image with disaster relief.
But it’s not all victory laps. While the border numbers are down, the internal enforcement is ramping up. That’s where the real friction is happening right now.
The Minneapolis Surge and the "Face the Nation" Clash
Things got heated this morning. Margaret Brennan pushed Noem on the deployment of 3,000 federal agents in Minnesota.
Noem didn't blink. She claimed that 70% of those detained in these operations have violent criminal records or charges. Brennan challenged that stat immediately. The two went back and forth, with Noem eventually accusing the media of "picking and choosing" numbers to fit a narrative.
It’s a messy situation. There are reports of a federal agent shooting a woman named Renee Good, and the Governor of Minnesota is claiming the feds aren't investigating it properly. Noem’s stance? We follow the same protocols as everyone else.
Why Some Lawmakers Want Her Fired
You’d think record-low border crossings would buy her some peace, but House Democrats are actually calling for her removal.
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On January 14, 2026, a group of Representatives led by Frank Pallone sent a letter to the White House. They aren't just mad about immigration; they’re claiming she’s "sabotaging" FEMA.
There are rumors—and some leaked draft plans—suggesting Noem wants to cut the FEMA workforce by more than half. The argument from the DHS side is that the agency needs to be "leaner and more effective." The argument from the other side is that she’s leaving the country vulnerable to the next big hurricane or earthquake.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Strategy
Most people think Noem is just a "border hawk." That’s a bit of a simplification.
She’s actually been very vocal about CISA (the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency). She wants it smaller. She told senators during her confirmation that CISA needs to "hunt" more and "bureaucratize" less. She’s leaning heavily into public-private partnerships, drawing on her experience with Dakota State University to try and modernize the nation’s cyber defenses.
It’s a gamble. If a major hack happens while she’s trimming the agency, it’s on her.
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Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
Whether you love her or hate her, Noem’s policies have real-world consequences that you might need to navigate.
- Travel and Documentation: With the "zero releases" policy and stricter enforcement, expect longer processing times for certain visa types and much higher scrutiny at ports of entry.
- Employer Compliance: If you run a business, I-9 audits are becoming way more common. The DHS under Noem is much more aggressive about workplace enforcement than the previous three administrations.
- TPS Status: If you or someone you know is on TPS, start looking at legal alternatives now. The trend is clear: these designations are being systematically ended.
- Disaster Prep: Don't rely solely on federal relief. With the potential downsizing of FEMA’s permanent staff, local and state-level preparedness is going to be more critical than ever in 2026 and 2027.
The "New" Homeland Security Secretary isn't so new anymore. She’s fully entrenched, and her first year has set a very specific, very controversial tone for the rest of the term.
Next Steps for Staying Updated:
To keep track of how these policy shifts affect your specific region, you should regularly check the CBP Operational Statistics page and the USCIS Temporary Protected Status update feed. These are the two fastest ways to see how Noem's "Americans First" mandate is translating into actual law and enforcement on the ground.