I know she’s ready to get to work for President Trump and the American people,' Senate Majority Leader John Thune says of Gov. Kristi Noem

President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Homeland Security secretary portrayed illegal immigration as an "invasion" and the U.S.-Mexico border as a "war zone" during a U.S. Senate confirmation on Friday where she pledged to back Trump's hard line on immigration.

The department that the South Dakota governor seeks to lead will be critical to fulfilling the incoming administration’s promises to quickly crack down on immigration.

Kristi Noem​, Trump's pick to lead the sprawling Department of Homeland Security, took questions from lawmakers on border policies and disaster relief.

Noem and committee Republicans focused on the border while Democrats asked about foreign and home-grown terrorism during a cordial hearing.

Alabama Senator Katie Britt, chair of Senate Homeland Security Appropriations, believes Noem is committed to securing the U.S.-Mexico border after successful confirmation vote Saturday.

Five of the nine tribes across South Dakota are issuing free tribal identification cards to all members, on and off the reservation, in light of profiling concerns regarding immigration enforcement.

Over the last four years, Noem has positioned herself as tough on the southern border and drug trafficking by deploying members of the South Dakota National Guard to the Texas-Mexico border.

Noem highlighted her 2024 decision to send South Dakota National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border “when Texas asked for help and when they were being overwhelmed by an unprecedented border crisis.

President Donald Trump said Monday that he expects to put 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting on Feb. 1, while declining to flesh out his plans for taxing Chinese imports.

"God bless South Dakota." Noem also addressed Rhoden in her ... and other ag industry representatives led a delegation to Mexico to strengthen trade relationships with that country.

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem will be the nation’s next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security after the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination Saturday.