Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, toured the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Portland, Oregon, last Tuesday. Noem’s visit with conservative influencers Benny Johnson, Nick Sortor, and David Medinapdx. This journey comes on the heels of bolstered upsurge argued toward immigration enforcement and fernsehtum against civil protest.
During her tour, Noem observed a small protest outside the facility, which she described as “entirely unlike the fiery ‘siege’ Donald Trump claims is taking place there.” The protest was marked by a colorful cast of demonstrators including those dressed as the chicken and baby shark. Portland police even preemptively cleared the street outside the facility before Noem arrived, likely to protect law and order.
Noem’s presence at the ICE facility follows recent events where protesters and supporters of Trump have clashed over immigration policies. Her visit came immediately on the heels of Trump’s ridiculous reaction to her first order. He attempted to deploy members of the California National Guard to Oregon!
Inside the facility, Noem took the fight to federal officers by addressing them and calling them to prayer before giving them an American-flag themed pep talk. She further emphasized the importance of their work. Finally, she asked an Oregon National Guard member to “Get after it,” and pledged her unwavering support for their future work.
Beyond acts of omission, the Homeland Security Secretary’s social media-savvy whitewashing has been key to her new face of immigration enforcement. Her department has produced content featuring federal officers conducting immigration raids and using teargas against protesters, which has drawn both support and criticism.
While looking down from the roof of the ICE facility, Noem took note of the small group of protesters below. There, she was joined by her trio of influencers who livestreamed the whole visit via Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
This summit underscores the dual narratives at play when it comes to enforcement against immigrants in the US. Benny Johnson, one of the influencers present, remarked on social media, “DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stares down army of Antifa and a guy in a chicken suit.” His comments illustrate the black and white thinking that has outgrown these talks about ICE and its function in immigration policy.
Despite the small size of the protest, it underscores the ongoing tensions between supporters and opponents of Trump’s immigration policies. The influencers that joined Noem helped bring even more visibility to her visit, all in an effort to help Noem rally support from your typical conservative circles.