Kristi Noem, the Governor of South Dakota, has emerged as a prominent figure in the ongoing national debate over immigration and border enforcement. In 2021, she deployed National Guard troops from South Dakota to Texas. This move was an effort to bolster the state’s increased enforcement of its southern border. That bold move fits into a broader plan patterned after former President Donald Trump’s extreme immigration agenda. Noem has pursued a similar overall strategy in her management of both COVID-19 and the enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws.
Noem’s obsession with the southern border best manifests itself in her 2021 campaign push. Her opposition to mask mandates and stay-at-home orders during the pandemic has been outspoken. This position is consistent with her overall approach to immigration policy. In a recent speech before a group of incarcerated individuals, she emphasized the consequences of illegal immigration, stating, “If you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you could face.”
Her administration has not been timid about confrontation, either. Following the voluntary dismissal of a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) involving detained migrants, Noem took to social media to celebrate the outcome. This appointment signals her backing for the current administration’s larger goals. Their goal is to implement what many observers have called the biggest deportation effort ever witnessed in American history.
A Hardline Approach to Immigration
Accepting Noem’s nomination Since taking office as Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem has moved aggressively to implement the administration’s radical anti-immigrant agenda. She quickly rescinded a number of these policies that were set up under the Biden administration, indicating a move back to more punitive enforcement actions. Her strategy involves freeing up staff from multiple different federal departments and working with local police to increase deportation efforts.
In a dramatic, high-stakes meeting with immigration enforcement leaders, Noem issued an unprecedented threat. She demanded that federal agents increase their average daily arrests from under 1,000 to 3,000. Her directive is a clear indication of the administration’s pledge to ramp up enforcement efforts and focus more on curtailing illegal immigration.
To announce her entry, Noem launched a multimillion-dollar worldwide advertising blitz. It threatens all undocumented immigrants, in effect, telling them to “go home now” or the federal government will hunt you down. This forward-looking approach has received praise and condemnation from art critics, politicians, industry experts and many more.
“Thankful for Secretary Noem’s partnership in fulfilling one of his most important promises to the American people: deporting illegal aliens.” – Abigail Jackson
Noem’s actions are especially egregious even within the increasingly harsh and punitive policy direction of U.S. immigration policy. She has been involved in some prominent deportation cases, including that of a Maryland man deported in error to El Salvador. Her work illustrates the potential pitfalls of a strict enforcement framework.
A Media Strategy with Political Implications
Noem is forging a distinctly authoritarian path by pursuing a media-savvy approach to governance. In 2019, her office opened a state-of-the-art television studio in the basement of South Dakota’s capitol building. This investment is an extension of her initiatives to shape a positive perception of her policies and projects narrative.
Her ostentatious 2020 Independence Day celebration paid tribute to Trump and included a military parade and artillery demonstrations. This event only served to deepen her role as a linchpin in his political world. Those events have allowed her to develop a deep rapport with Trump’s base, raising her profile on the national stage.
“The [Trump administration] takes this promise seriously and will continue working to supercharge the pace of deportations and Make America safe again.” – Abigail Jackson
Noem’s media presence allows her to communicate directly with constituents and supporters, amplifying her message around immigration enforcement and other key issues. Through her mastery of social media and appearances on right-wing television, she has thoroughly defined herself as an unapologetic, anti-woke leader continuing the Trump-era track.
Legal Challenges and Controversies
Ironically, despite that unapologetic approach, Noem’s actions have been gallingly defeated and struck down in federal court. Critics argue that many of her policies have been “manifestly and almost universally determined to be unlawful and unconstitutional.” This argument underscores the national controversy surrounding the legality of extraterritorial and militarized immigration enforcement.
Noem is being met with fierce opposition from legal scholars and civil rights leaders. She needs to work through a complicated political gauntlet to get there. Her position at DHS has planted her smack dab in the center of contentious legal fights over immigration policy. This makes her one of the most important people in determining the future of U.S. immigration law.
Noem’s recent tour of a nascent tent camp at Guantánamo Bay further raises questions about her commitment to humanitarian considerations amid strict enforcement measures. Critics argue that such facilities could contribute to inhumane conditions for detainees, adding another layer of complexity to her administration’s policies.
“The actions of this secretary have been manifestly and almost universally determined to be unlawful and unconstitutional.” – Paul Rosenzweig
As she moves ahead to face these issues, Noem’s political future is still very much tied to her anti-immigrant stand. What will be important is how she is able to respond to that criticism. It’ll assist her in keeping support among her left flank while she pushes for a stronger enforcement complexion.