Category: US Department of Homeland Security

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.   

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

“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.” – Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem

WASHINGTON – In her first month on the job, Secretary Kristi Noem returned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to its core mission of securing the homeland.

Under Secretary Noem’s strong leadership, DHS is hard at work securing our borders, arresting and removing criminal aliens, safeguarding the U.S. cyber infrastructure, protecting America’s leaders, deterring terrorism, and keeping America safe.

Below is just a sample of Secretary Noem’s accomplishments from her first month:

• Secretary Noem has empowered our brave men and women in ICE, Border Patrol, and the Coast Guard to use common sense to do their jobs effectively.
   
  • ICE arrests of criminal aliens have doubled and arrests of fugitives at large as tripled.
  • Single day border apprehensions hit a 15-year low and daily border encounters have plunged 94% since President Trump took office.
     
• Secretary Noem rode with ICE agents on an operation in New York City that resulted in the arrest of a Tren de Aragua ringleader.
   
• DHS has returned the Temporary Protected Status immigration program to its original status: temporary. No longer will this program be abused and exploited by illegal aliens. 
   
  • Secretary Noem ended the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan Temporary Protected Status.
  • Additionally, the Secretary rescinded the previous administration’s extension of Haitian Temporary Protected Status.  
     
• Under the Secretary’s leadership, DHS is enforcing President Trump’s first major piece of legislation, the Laken Riley Act. This law mandates the federal detention of illegal aliens who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting law enforcement, and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury.  
   
• To stop policies that were magnets for illegal immigration, Secretary Noem froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration.
   
• Secretary Noem has deputized the Texas National Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, special agents from the State Department and the IRS to help with immigration operations.
   
• To fulfill President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations, the administration is detaining illegal aliens, including violent criminals, at Guantanamo Bay. 
   
  • Already, 176 illegal aliens being held at Guantanamo Bay have been returned to Venezuela.  
  • 125 of these individuals were violent criminals including Tren de Aragua gang members and weapon and drug traffickers.
     
• DHS ensured a safe and secure Super Bowl for the more than 100,000 fans celebrating in New Orleans.  
   
• Secretary Noem launched a multimillion-dollar ad campaign urging illegal aliens to leave the U.S. voluntarily or face deportation with no chance of return.  
   
• Secretary Noem is embracing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts to make sweeping cuts that eliminate government waste, return DHS to its core mission of protecting the homeland, and fulfill the Founders vision of returning power to the states.

Bottom Line: President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue fighting every day to make America safe again. 

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

“Under President Donald Trump, the days of open borders are over.”- Secretary Noem

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary Noem announced on Saturday, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered only 200 aliens at the U.S. Southern border. That is the lowest number of apprehensions in a single day in over 15 years.

These record low numbers come days after Secretary Noem launched a multimillion dollar nationwide and international ad campaign warning illegal aliens to stay out.

View Original “Warning – International” video

A statement from a senior DHS spokesperson is below:

“President Trump and Secretary Noem have sent a clear message to illegal aliens: do not come to our country. You will not be allowed in. And if you get in, we will hunt you down and deport you.

That message has been received. This weekend, we saw the single lowest apprehensions at the southern border in more than 15 years. This is yet another sign the President Trump’s commonsense immigration and border security policies are working.”

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

“President Trump and I are returning TPS to its original status: temporary.” – Secretary Noem

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary Noem vacated a decision by the previous administration to extend Haiti’s Temporary Protect Status (TPS) by 18 months. As part of this move, Haiti’s TPS will end on August 3, 2025, unless extended. This is part of President Trump’s promise to rescind policies that were magnets for illegal immigration and inconsistent with the law. 

TPS is a type of immigration status available to nationals of certain designated countries that allows aliens, even if they entered the country illegally, the ability to reside temporarily in the U.S. The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to designate a foreign country for TPS if there is an ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. 

For decades the TPS system has been exploited and abused. For example, Haiti has been designated for TPS since 2010. The data shows each extension of the country’s TPS designation allowed more Haitian nationals, even those who entered the U.S. illegally, to qualify for legal protected status. 

In May of 2011, DHS estimated that 57,000 Haitians were eligible to register for TPS. In August 2021, DHS estimated that 155,000 Haitians were eligible under the new designation. And by July 2024, the estimate skyrocketed to 520,694. 

A statement from a DHS spokeswoman: 

“Biden and Mayorkas attempted to tie the hands of the Trump administration by extending Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status by 18 months—far longer than justified or necessary.

“We are returning integrity to the TPS system, which has been abused and exploited by illegal aliens for decades. President Trump and Secretary Noem are returning TPS to its original status: temporary.” 

Last month, Secretary Noem similarly rescinded the previous administration’s Venezuela TPS extension.