'Just Simply Isn't True': Kristi Noem Lashes Out At Democratic 'Narrative' Being Used To Attack DHS

yesterday

At a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sec. Kristi Noem spoke about Democratic attacks on DHS.

Transcript

00:00Gentlemen from Arizona, Mr. Siskamani, the floor is yours.

00:07Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Secretary Nolan, for being here with us today and for your testimony and your leadership,

00:14your leadership and that of all the men and women that you serve with as well in the Department of Homeland Security.

00:20Like you, I come from a border state, and though the northern and southern borders are vastly different,

00:27I know you understand firsthand the challenges that our communities at the border face as well as the value that they bring also to our states and our region.

00:38The security that this administration has been able to deliver to our southern borders in such a short period of time is astounding.

00:45And so well appreciated by those who live and work in these communities, I know I hear it all the time.

00:50This is the number one feedback I get from my constituents regarding the results that we've seen from this administration

00:56and your leadership has played a key role in that, so thank you.

00:59In the district that I represent, which is much of the Tucson sector of Border Patrol, we have historically seen high numbers of guideways.

01:06I understand there have been around 65,000 guideways this fiscal year.

01:11What resources or what resource investments for both technology and infrastructure are you planning to make

01:18and how those will be reduced in the numbers for the future?

01:22The guideways, of course, are troubling.

01:25We've seen a lot of the reported numbers come down, but these guideways, that's that's I know it's a key issue for you as well and a focus.

01:34So on that and then and then particularly could you speak on to the technology that we'll be using in these rough terrain areas like southern Arizona,

01:41which is so different from other border areas, including my friends in Texas.

01:45When you go to Arizona, it's just broad terrain, rough some areas, hard to even build any kind of barrier or wall.

01:51So technology plays a big role there.

01:53Can you speak to that?

01:55Yes, thank you so much for talking about the fact that as we've secured our border and as we've addressed the challenges

02:02and in the areas of the southern border and northern border where we saw a lot of folks crossing illegally

02:07and we've put more resources in those areas or what was necessary to really follow our federal law and keep American people safe.

02:16We've seen that some of the traffic has pushed to other areas, maybe areas that weren't well traveled before

02:22and now gotaways are trying to take advantage of that.

02:25They also have pushed heavily towards the maritime borders and out into the waters.

02:30The Coast Guard is seeing much more traffic.

02:32They're also seeing the cartel activity out there of trafficking of drugs and human beings and technologies

02:38that they're having a difficult time keeping up with.

02:40The Coast Guard has been neglected for many, many years and they don't have the airframe

02:46and they don't have the cutters to keep up and even to manage and maintain the horsepower needs that they have

02:51to catch and interdict some of the smuggling activities that are going on.

02:55You referenced some of the rough terrain and what we need to do as far as CBP and investment on this border.

03:02Frankly, we're going to use the latest and greatest technology that would be available to us as far as surveillance equipment,

03:08cameras, satellite images when possible, and also the Aerostar like Congressman Quaylor was talking about.

03:16Some of those technologies in areas to help those vulnerable areas have more eyesight to truly know what is crossing there

03:24so that we can interdict it before it comes into our country.

03:27I would talk exclusively, too, about how we've been able to diplomatically work with the country of Mexico.

03:36President Trump's strong leadership has helped Mexico be more proactive than they ever were before, too.

03:40And so in my conversations with government officials, they've indicated to me there could be as many as 500,000 to 600,000 illegals

03:48that never reached our border because when they got to Mexico and heard that our border was closed, they turned around and went back.

03:55So a combination of solutions is needed. You absolutely have to have a president that cares about keeping us safe.

04:01We now have that in President Trump, but also making sure that we have the people and the equipment necessary for CBP and for ICE to do their job.

04:10But then the technology, which you referenced, which is needed.

04:14We have scanners that we need at ports of entry so that we can scan our our shipments, our rail and even our air freight.

04:22Much of that we don't necessarily know what's coming in in containers and small packages.

04:27Those those technologies are critically important.

04:30And why you see a request in increase in funding to address those challenges that simply were neglected for too long under the Biden administration.

04:38Excellent. Thank you so much for that. You know, you mentioned the diplomatic conversations as well.

04:43I think that's something that doesn't get enough attention of the power of strong leadership in the White House now and the reaction of not only Mexico,

04:50but the rest of Latin America on this. I think that's key.

04:52And we want to partner with Mexico and other countries on on this with a little time that I have left.

04:59Do you mind just speaking of the morale of the agents and your efforts on recruiting and retention?

05:03I think that goes hand in hand with the technology piece as well.

05:06Yeah, the morale of the Department of Homeland Security agencies and departments and employees that work there is fantastic.

05:13We have incredible numbers and recruitment people who want to be a part of the agency that are signing up and submitting applications.

05:20I referenced earlier that CBP has over 50 percent. I believe it's 54 percent increase in recruitment.

05:27ICE as well maintaining and excelling at its recruitment efforts and getting officers and people who want to be a part of the team or coming out of retirement.

05:37We have the Coast Guard is at 108 percent increase of its recruitment.

05:42People that understand the mission and they want to be a part of of the many different skill sets that the Coast Guard can bring to partnering with our military departments,

05:52but also going out there and helping at the border and continuing on with their search and rescue mission.

05:57And then you look at the Secret Service because of the recruitment efforts that we've had and putting those agents back on focusing hiring expertise, hiring experience instead of DEI programs.