US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as his secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which controls immigration-related agencies.
Announcing her nomination on the social media platform 'Truth Social' on Tuesday night, Trump said, "Kristi has been very strong on Border Security."
With Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, her nomination would complete the trio of positions impacting Trump's high-priority immigration agenda, which includes mass deportations.
She was reported to have been on Trump's shortlist of Vice President candidates.
Noem said, "With Donald Trump, we will secure the border, and restore safety to American communities."
She shares Trump's hardline stand on immigration and sent South Dakota's National Guard to Texas in support of Republican Governor Greg Abbott's border control action in defiance of President Joe Biden's administration.
Noem also offered to send razor wires to reinforce Abbott's barriers along the border, which the Supreme Court ordered to be removed.
Her sprawling department has a broad reach over internal security.
It includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is in charge of deportations; Customs and Border Protection, which deploys border agents, and Citizenship and Immigration Service, which processes applications for immigration and citizenship.
She will also have charge of the Secret Service, which provides VIP security and has been criticised for failing to stop the shooter in the first assassination attempt against Trump.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency are also under the department.
Noem held the state's lone House of Representatives seat before she was elected Governor.
She describes herself as a rancher and farmer and tries to present a picture of her as a down-to-earth frontiersperson.
In her pugnacious memoir, "No Going Back," she talked about shooting her dog during a hunt because it was very aggressive and could not be trained and cited it as an example of her firmness in carrying out necessary "difficult, messy, and ugly" actions.
‘Pahalgam incident deeply disturbing & tragic’: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday termed the Pahalgam terror attack as disturbing & tragic and also condoled the victims and their families.
Congress finally deletes 'Gayab' post targeting PM Modi after outrage
Under fire from the BJP over its social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress finally, on Tuesday, took down the controversial post.
Guterres calls EAM Jaishankar, Pak PM Sharif; stresses pursuing justice in Pahalgam terror attack
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of pursuing justice in the Pahalgam terrorist attack while speaking with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shebaz Sharif, his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
Congress organises ‘Save Constitution’ rallies across NE states
The opposition Congress has been organising ‘Samvidhan Bachao’ (Save Constitution) campaign in the northeastern states. Claiming that the Constitution is in danger under the BJP-led Central government, the opposition Congress held a massive rally in Agartala on Tuesday.
RSS chief Bhagwat meets PM Modi after security huddle: Signs of a hard-hitting response in the works
In a significant political development, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Tuesday evening.
What PM Modi's free hand to armed forces against terror means for cross-border action?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unambiguous message during a high-level security meeting - ‘India is determined to deliver a crushing blow to terrorism’ - marks more than just a strong statement of resolve.
Justice BR Gavai appointed as next Chief Justice of India
Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on May 29, 2019. Appointed as Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003, he became a permanent Judge in November 2005.
Three more Bangladeshi nationals held in Tripura
The Tripura Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday apprehended three Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, for illegally entering India, officials said.