Kristi Noem

American politician who served as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security from 2025 to March 2026. She previously served as Governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025.

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What we have documented

We have documented 6 statements by Kristi Noem, in 5 cases. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.

Statements by Kristi Noem

Kristi Noem

Role at the time: Secretary of Homeland Security, testifying at a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing

March 3, 2026Mixed or conditional

Statement summary

Asked at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing whether she would rule out deploying ICE or CBP to polling places in November, Noem said, "There are no plans to have ICE officers at our polling locations". Pressed to say it would not happen, she asked whether the senator planned on illegal aliens voting and said, "unless you plan on illegal aliens voting".

“There are no plans to have ICE officers at our polling locations. … Okay, then there should be no need to, unless you plan on illegal aliens voting. … We have no plans to have ICE officers or law enforcement at polling locations.”

Watch the original videoHomeland Security Secretary Noem Testifies on Agency Oversight Hearing, Part 1 (C-SPAN video) · C-SPANSenate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of March 3, 2026, Part 1; Sen. Coons's questions and Noem's answers on polling places, about 1:50:40 to 1:53:00

Why we used this label

The reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE and other armed federal agents at or near polling places in the 2026 election. Noem said there are no plans to have ICE officers at polling locations but did not agree to rule it out, and tied the need for a presence to whether illegal aliens vote. A denial paired with that condition fits mixed or conditional better than denies, and explicitly declines loses because she did answer that there are no plans.

Read statement Full case: Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?

Kristi Noem

Role at the time: U.S. secretary of homeland security testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee

March 3, 2026Mixed or conditional

Statement summary

Noem said the shooting appeared wrong as Blumenthal described it, while withholding a final position until she could review the case.

“Sir, the way that you have portrayed it, it appears to be, but let me look at the case so I can speak to the specifics of it.”

Read the official statementBlumenthal questions Noem about constitutional violations and abuse by DHS agents · Richard BlumenthalFull transcript, exchange concerning Marimar Martinez

Why we used this label

Noem agreed only that the conduct appeared wrong as Blumenthal described it and reserved judgment pending review, making her position conditional.

Read statement Full case: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?

Kristi Noem

Role at the time: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security

January 24, 2026Defended or excused

Statement summary

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told reporters at a January 24, 2026 press conference that Pretti impeded federal law enforcement operations and attacked officers, framing the shooting as a response to an assault.

“impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers”

Open sourceWhat the video shows — and doesn't — about the killing of Alex Pretti — Poynterarticle body, quoting Noem's Jan. 24, 2026 press conference

Why we used this label

Noem characterizes Pretti as the aggressor who attacked and impeded officers, which excuses the agents' decision to fire rather than evaluating whether the force used was proportionate to any threat he actually posed.

Read statement Full case: Were Border Patrol Agent Jesus Ochoa and CBP Officer Raymundo Gutierrez justified in fatally shooting Alex Pretti?

Kristi Noem

Role at the time: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, quoted in a DHS press release

January 15, 2026Defended or excused

Response to this claim

Officer Christian Castro was ambushed and beaten with a snow shovel and broom handle by Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and two other men, and fired a single defensive shot because he feared for his life.

“What we saw last night in Minneapolis was an attempted murder of federal law enforcement. Our officer was ambushed and attacked by three individuals who beat him with snow shovels and the handles of brooms. Fearing for his life, the officer fired a defensive shot.”

Read the official statementDHS Releases More Details About the Three Violent Criminal Illegal Aliens Who Violently Beat a Law Enforcement Officer with Weapons · U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityFull press release, including the quotation from Secretary Kristi Noem

Why we used this label

Noem expressly characterizes the shooting as a defensive response to a life-threatening attack, directly excusing Castro's use of force.

Read statement Full case: Was ICE Officer Christian Castro Justified in Shooting Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis?

Kristi Noem

Role at the time: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security

October 5, 2025Defended or excused

Statement summary

Noem said agents fired to protect themselves from an attacker.

“Our agents had to protect themselves and shots were fired and an individual ended up in the hospital that was attacking these officers.”

Open sourceProtester shot in Chicago by Border Patrol agents who claim they were ambushed by convoy · ABC NewsParagraphs 2-6

Why we used this label

This explicitly presents the shooting as a defensive response to an attack.

Read statement Full case: Was Border Patrol Agent Charles Exum justified in shooting Marimar Martinez?

Kristi Noem

Role at the time: U.S. secretary of homeland security

September 18, 2025Defended or excused

Statement summary

Noem said the agent’s life had been endangered and that he suffered serious injuries during the encounter.

“His life was put at risk and he sustained serious injuries.”

Open sourceImmigration agent who shot man in Chicago-area traffic stop says injuries were ‘nothing major’

Why we used this label

She reinforces the imminent-threat premise used to justify the agent’s decision to fire.

Read statement Full case: Was ICE justified in fatally shooting Silverio Villegas González?

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.

Case

DOJ reviews allegations that Corey Lewandowski profited from his DHS role, reports say; he denies wrongdoing

Relationship to this case: Participant

Reports say the Justice Department is reviewing whether Corey Lewandowski used his DHS role for financial gain. Lewandowski denies wrongdoing and calls earlier reporting politically driven; Trump says his people have to be prosecuted if they are not honest.

Government Ethics U.S. PoliticsUpdated October 28, 2026

Case