Category: Homeland Security

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary Noem ceremonially swore in Sean Curran as the Director of the United States Secret Service in the Oval Office. 

Secretary Noem’s statement is below: 

“Sean’s brave actions when he risked his life to help save President Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania is a testament to his dedication to the mission of the US Secret Service. 

With his decades of experience, he will return the Secret Service to focusing on its core mission: protecting American leaders and the U.S. financial system. I look forward to working alongside Sean to ensure that the Secret Service is stronger than ever before.”

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is launching the CBP Home app with a self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country. Aliens should use the CBP Home mobile phone application to submit their intent to depart as indicated below.

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Self-deportation is the safest option for illegal aliens, while preserving law enforcement resources. Not only is it safer, but it also saves U.S. taxpayer dollars and valuable Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources to focus on dangerous criminal aliens.

This self-deportation functionality is part of a larger $200 million domestic and international ad campaign encouraging illegal aliens to “Stay Out and Leave Now.”

All CBP One applications will automatically update to the CBP Home app. The new app is also available free across mobile application stores.

A Statement from Secretary Kristi Noem:

“The Biden Administration exploited the CBP One app to allow more than 1 million aliens to illegally enter the United States. With the launching of the CBP Home app, we are restoring integrity to our immigration system.

“The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream. If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return.”

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON —Today, Secretary Kristi Noem announced new leadership to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reinstitute a culture of results and accountability after four years of agency decay under the Biden Administration. 

Secretary Noem issued the following statement: 

“For the past four years, our brave men and women of ICE were barred from doing their jobs—ICE needs a culture of accountability that it has been starved of under the Biden Administration.

“With President Trump’s support, I am appointing new ICE leadership to deliver results that President Trump and the American people rightfully demand: Todd Lyons will serve as Acting ICE Director and Madison Sheahan as Deputy Director of ICE. Todd Lyons and Madison Sheahan are work horses, strong executors, and accountable leaders who will lead the men and women of ICE to achieve the American people’s mandate to target, arrest and deport illegal aliens.”

Mr. Todd Lyons, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the acting Executive Associate Director of ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations. He was the former Assistant Director of Field Operations for ERO, overseeing all 25 Field Office and domestic operations across the United States.  

Additionally, Mr. Lyons held the role of the Deputy Assistant Director of Western Operations and the Southwest Border. Previously, Mr. Lyons served as the Field Office Director (FOD) for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Boston Field Office. As the FOD for the Boston Field Office, Mr. Lyons oversaw all ERO activities within the states of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont. Mr. Lyons also served as an Assistant Field Office Director (AFOD) in ERO Dallas from April 2015 to Sept 2017 and served as the Chief of Staff for the ERO Dallas Field Office Director from Aug 2014 to March 2015. 

Mr. Lyons began his career in federal service with the United States Air Force in 1993.  In August 1999, Mr. Lyons began his civilian law enforcement career in the State of Florida.  In April 2007, Mr. Lyons joined ERO as an Immigration Enforcement Agent in Dallas, TX.  

Ms. Madison D. Sheahan serves as the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, overseeing a $280 million budget and leading a team of over 800 employees across the wildlife, fisheries, and enforcement divisions. She established the Special Operations Group within the enforcement division to prioritize public safety cementing historic partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for major events such as Mardi Gras and Super Bowl LIX. In this role, she also advises Governor Jeff Landry as a member of the state’s cabinet and Unified Command Group. 

Prior to serving the State of Louisiana alongside Governor Jeff Landry, Madison worked for former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem in various leadership positions. Including in the governor’s official office, the state republican party, and on special initiatives aimed at advancing the governors agenda. She played a major role in passing one of the strongest bills in the nation protecting women’s sports.

Madison is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public affairs, public management, leadership, policy, and agribusiness, with minors in community and business leadership. 

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

Representatives from the United States, Canada, and Finland discussed concrete implementation of this important initiative to build Arctic and Polar icebreakers. 

HELSINKI, Finland – The National Coordinators of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) and other officials from the Governments of the United States, Canada, and Finland met in Helsinki March 4-5. 

The participants reaffirmed their commitment to the ICE Pact initiative and its goal to build best-in-class Arctic and Polar icebreakers, boost economic growth, and revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry.  All parties recognized the need to enhance our Arctic and Polar icebreaking capabilities and the mutual interest in our nations having a strong presence in the Arctic.    

Participants discussed technical collaboration on icebreaker design and production, shipyard workforce development, allies and partners engagement, and research, development and innovation related to the Arctic and Polar regions. 

The participants agreed to continue their work and to meet again in May in Canada. 

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it is ending collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which has constrained TSA’s chief mission: to safeguard our transportation systems and keep Americans safe.

Eliminating collective bargaining removes bureaucratic hurdles that will strengthen workforce agility enhance productivity and resiliency, while also jumpstarting innovation.

Making America’s Transportation Networks Resilient Again

Gaps in benefit programs, including non-verifiable Family and Medical Leave, are being exploited by a select few poor performers, placing greater burden on TSOs at the expense of American travelers and taxpayers.

This includes instances, where a TSO requested sick leave seven months in advance.

TSA has more people doing full-time union work than we have performing screening functions at 86% of our airports. Of the 432 federalized airports, 374 airports have fewer than 200 TSA Officers to preform screening functions.

Nearly 200 TSA Officers are paid by the government but work full-time on union matters. These people do not retain certification to perform screening functions. Additionally, in a recent TSA employee survey, over 60% said poor performers are allowed to stay employed and, not surprisingly, continue to not perform.

Fighting for TSA Workers

The Transportation Security officers are losing their hard-earned dollars to a union that did not represent or protect their interests. The union has hindered merit-based performance recognition and advancement—that’s not the American way.

By eliminating the collective bargaining agreement, Transportation Security Officers will now have opportunities based on their performance, not longevity or union membership.

A statement from a DHS Spokesperson is below:

“Thanks to Secretary Noem’s action, Transportation Security Officers will no longer lose their hard-earned dollars to a union that does not represent them. The Trump Administration is committed returning to merit-based hiring and firing policies.

“This action will ensure Americans will have a more effective and modernized workforces across the nation’s transportation networks. TSA is renewing its commitment to providing a quick and secure travel process for Americans.”

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

 In Puerto Rico, Secretary Noem also met with Governor Jennifer González-Colón.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, Secretary Kristi Noem presented Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agent Jorge Santiago and Agent Mark Lamphere with the Medal of Valor and Purple Cross awards. The ceremony also officially marked renaming of the Mayagüez Marine Unit to the Michel O. Maceda Marine Unit during a solemn ceremony. 

In November 2022, Agent Santiago, Agent Lamphere, and Agent Maceda intercepted a vessel 14 miles off the coast of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. The individuals on board were attempting to smuggle drugs into American communities. After the agents identified themselves as law enforcement, the drug traffickers opened fire. All three agents were hit. Despite his near fatal injuries, Agent Santiago gave lifesaving first aid care to Agent Lamphere and attempted to save Agent Maceda. That day, Agent Maceda made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our great nation. 

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Senate voted to confirm Troy Edgar as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by a bipartisan vote of 53-43.

“Congratulations to Deputy Secretary Edgar on his bipartisan confirmation today. He will be a key player in making America safe again,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “I look forward to working alongside Troy to ensure that the United States, once again, is a beacon of freedom, safety, and security for generations to come.”

“I want to thank President Trump and the United States Senate for their trust in me. It is an honor to return to the Department,” said Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar. “I look forward to working alongside Secretary Noem and the dedicated men and women of DHS in our critical mission to keep Americans safe.”

Troy Edgar previously served during President Trump’s first term as Chief Financial Officer and Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security. In that role, he oversaw financial policy, modernization efforts, and the Department’s $90 billion budget, ensuring funding for critical immigration policies and border wall construction.

Most recently a Fortune 500 executive, Edgar brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the public and private sectors across finance, supply chain transformation, and technology.

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued the following statement tonight on President Donald J. Trump’s joint address to Congress: 

“Tonight, President Trump laid out his vision to renew the American dream. In just a few short weeks, President Trump’s immigration and border security policies have led to an all-time-low in illegal crossings at the southern border and migrants turning back before they even reach our border.  

“Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE has increased arrests by 627% — targeting criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, child predators and drug traffickers poisoning our communities with deadly drugs. 

“President Trump’s message is clear: America’s borders are closed to lawbreakers. 

Congress must answer the President’s call to pass more funding to finish the construction of the border wall and to carry out mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens. I applaud President Trump’s commitment to put America first and to renew the American dream.”  

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

“Hundreds of thousands of criminals were let into this country illegally. We are sending them home, and they will never be allowed to return.” – Secretary Noem 

WASHINGTON–Today, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that in a single month under President Trump more than 20,000 illegal aliens were arrested.  

That’s a 627% increase in monthly arrests compared to just 33,000 at large arrests under Biden for ALL of last year.  

A statement from Secretary Noem is below:  

“President Trump and this Administration are saving lives every day because of the actions we are taking to secure the border and deport illegal alien criminals. Hundreds of thousands of criminals were let into this country illegally. We are sending them home, and they will never be allowed to return.”  

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

DHS Will Use Every Available Tool to Compel Illegal Aliens to Self-Deport 

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary Kristi Noem announced the Department of Homeland Security will fully enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act, which created multiple tools to track illegal aliens and compel them to leave the country voluntarily. These tools include criminal penalties for certain aliens who:   

• Willfully fail to depart the United States. 
• Fail to register with the federal government and be fingerprinted. 
• Fail to apprise the federal government of changes to their address. 

An alien’s failure to depart the U.S. is a crime that could result in significant financial penalty. An alien’s failure to register is a crime that could result in a fine, imprisonment, or both. For decades, this law has been ignored—not anymore.  

Compelling mass self-deportation is a safer path for aliens and law enforcement, and saves U.S. taxpayer dollars, in addition to conserving valuable Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources needed to keep Americans safe.  

Statement Attributable to a DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin 

“President Trump and Secretary Noem have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream. 

“The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws—we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce.  We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans.”  

Aliens can register here.  

This announcement comes on the heels of a nationwide and international ad campaign warning illegal aliens to self-deport and stay out.