The elected president, Donald Trump, has begun to announce the key pieces of his transition cabinet after winning the presidential elections. Recently, according to CNN reports, he has chosen the governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, to lead the Department of Homeland Security. This nomination means that Noem would have the responsibility of securing the U.S. border and implementing immigration policies, including the promise to carry out mass deportations that are part of Trump's agenda for his second term.
The implementation of Trump's immigration policies will be one of the main challenges for Noem, 52 years old. This includes the logistical difficulty of locating and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, as well as facing legal hurdles, financial issues, and the need for other countries, such as Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, to accept the return of their citizens. Some countries, like China, Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, have historically refused to accept deportation flights.
During his first term, Trump struggled to fulfill his promises of mass deportations and building a wall on the border with Mexico. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement faces multiple challenges in carrying out these policies. Noem would join other Trump collaborators, such as Tom Homan and Stephen Miller, in the government, but her nomination will require Senate confirmation.
The Department of Homeland Security, created after the September 11, 2001 attacks, has various responsibilities, including cybersecurity, investigating terrorist threats, responding to natural disasters, and enforcing customs laws. This agency plays a crucial role in protecting the national security of the United States.
