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A labor union representing thousands of Border Patrol agents is throwing its full support behind South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), urging senators to confirm her nomination “quickly.”
“On behalf of the men and women of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) who protect our nation’s borders, we are excited to provide our support for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee, Governor Kristi Noem, to be the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security,” NBPC President Paul Perez wrote in a letter addressed to Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, respectively.
Perez also sent the letter to Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), the incoming Senate majority leader, joining a growing list of law enforcement groups backing Noem. DHS oversees agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Secret Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In the letter, Perez highlighted Noem’s track record, including her support for Texas’ “Operation Lone Star” and deployments of South Dakota National Guard troops to combat illegal border crossings.
“Governor Noem is a seasoned leader who knows how to get things done—not only as chief executive of her home state but also in Washington, D.C., where she served with distinction and integrity in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Perez wrote. “Governor Noem was the first governor to deploy National Guard personnel to the border in Texas to support Operation Lone Star. This deployment bolstered our resources at a critical time along the border and helped protect Texans and Americans alike.”
Noem, a vocal advocate for border security, has repeatedly deployed troops from South Dakota to help stem illegal immigration and combat drug cartels at the southern border. Earlier this year, she described the border as a “war zone,” adding, “These soldiers’ primary mission will be construction of a wall to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, drug cartels, and human trafficking into the United States of America.”
Perez emphasized Noem’s leadership qualities and her ability to provide the resources Border Patrol agents need to secure the border, urging swift confirmation.
“We are confident that as Secretary, Governor Noem will continue to ensure Border Patrol agents have the resources and manpower that we need to secure our border. We urge you to quickly begin consideration of this critical nomination and confirm Governor Noem as Secretary once President Trump is sworn in,” he wrote.
Law enforcement groups have broadly rallied behind Noem, including the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), which noted her long-standing commitment to public safety.
President-elect Trump announced Noem’s nomination just days after his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. In his announcement, Trump praised her as a strong advocate for border security, stating, “Kristi has been very strong on Border Security. She was the first Governor to send National Guard Soldiers to help Texas fight the Biden Border Crisis, and they were sent a total of eight times. She will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the Border and guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries. I have known Kristi for years, and she will be a great part of our mission to Make America Safe Again.”
Noem has begun meeting with Senate lawmakers to garner support, telling reporters, “We’ve just had great conversations with Sen. Peters, talked about some concerns within the agency, and what we can do to solidify our national security interests. Republicans and Democrats in this country recognize how important homeland security is, and that we’re working together to make sure that we’re safe.”
