DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Slams Democrat For Advocating For Deported ‘Terrorist’
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem fiercely defended her department’s actions this week after Democrats attempted to paint the deportation of a suspected MS-13 member as a violation of due process. The clash occurred during a heated Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, where Noem pushed back against claims that the Trump administration had mishandled the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a Salvadoran national with an extensive record and alleged gang ties.
Abrego Garcia was deported earlier this year, despite a last-minute Supreme Court directive calling for his temporary return to the U.S. for legal proceedings. Secretary Noem held firm, declaring that Abrego Garcia, a known national security threat, had no legal right to remain in the United States and should never have been here in the first place.
“He’s not a U.S. citizen. He’s a criminal alien with suspected gang affiliations, and we will not apologize for putting American safety first,” Noem told the committee.
The sharpest exchange came when Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) grilled Noem on why DHS had not complied with the court’s temporary injunction. Van Hollen, who controversially met with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, was accused by critics of advocating for a dangerous individual with suspected ties to one of the world’s most violent criminal organizations.
According to DHS records, Abrego Garcia had a 2019 arrest for assault, a 2021 restraining order filed by his estranged wife, and a 2022 traffic stop that resulted in further gang-related intelligence. Federal agents determined he posed a threat and acted within their authority to remove him.
Despite this, left-wing lawmakers and activist groups continue to argue that his deportation violated due process rights. Secretary Noem was unflinching: “We’re not going to let bureaucratic loopholes or activist judges give violent criminals a second chance at endangering American communities.”
The controversy has become a flashpoint in the larger immigration debate, with Republicans standing firm on prioritizing public safety and national sovereignty, while Democrats increasingly advocate for leniency, even for individuals with criminal histories.
For Noem and the Trump administration, the case exemplifies the broader mission to dismantle dangerous networks and protect the homeland—without bowing to political pressure or media narratives.