Homeland Security Secretary Noem faces scrutiny over immigration policies at a House hearing

WASHINGTON– Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who leads the agency central to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation program, is expected to face fierce questions from Democrats on Thursday as the public face of the Republican administration’s tough-line approach to immigration.

It’s been months since Noem appeared before Congress in May. Since then, immigration enforcement operations, notably in Los Angeles and Chicago, have become increasingly controversial, with federal agents and activists frequently clashing over his department’s tactics.

Noem testifies before the House Committee on Homeland Security to discuss “global threats to the homeland,” which in recent years have focused on issues such as cybersecurity, terrorism, China and border security. With Noem having made only a few appearances before Congress while leading Trump’s flagship policy area, Thursday’s appearance will likely focus heavily on immigration.

Trump returned to power in January with what he says is a mandate to reshape immigration in the United States, saying the country is being overrun.

In the months that followed, the number of people detained for immigration skyrocketed; the administration continued to expel migrants to countries where they are not from; and, following the indictment of an Afghan national for shooting two National Guard soldiers, Noem’s department significantly stepped up screening and monitoring of immigrants in the United States.

The Global Threats Hearing, typically held annually, is an opportunity for members of Congress to question leaders from the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center about the threats facing the United States and what their agencies are doing to respond to them.

Noem’s department is under particular scrutiny because Congress passed a law in July giving her about $165 billion to carry out her mass expulsion program and secure the border. The department is getting more money to hire 10,000 more deportation officers, complete the wall between the United States and Mexico and increase the detention and expulsion of foreigners from the country.

The secretary’s appearance also comes as a federal judge is investigating whether she should face a contempt charge over flights carrying migrants to El Salvador.

Noem will also likely have to respond to criticism from Democrats who accuse immigration officials of mistakenly detaining and arresting U.S. citizens in their rush to illegally deport as many people into the country as possible. Homeland Security says immigration enforcement agents do not target or arrest U.S. citizens for immigration purposes, although they say they have arrested Americans for allegedly interfering with enforcement operations.

And a number of Democratic committee members are part of a lawsuit accusing Noem and the department of limiting their access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers.

Also present at Thursday’s hearing are Joseph Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Michael Glasheen, director of operations for the FBI’s national security branch.

Previous hearings have focused on questions on cybersecurity, China, chemical safety and drones. Under President Joe Biden, at a time of high migration at the southern border, Republicans have often focused their questions on his Democratic administration’s handling of border security.

When the hearing was announced in September, the Republican committee chairman said that in addition to Noem and Kent, FBI Director Kash Patel would also attend. But the FBI is represented by Glasheen.