The Biden administration is under intense scrutiny following explosive testimony by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who alleged that unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S.-Mexico border were being placed in the hands of traffickers under the previous administration’s policies.
Speaking under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, 3rd March, Noem said that “the government was paying individuals who were knowingly trafficking [children] and abusing them,” claiming the practice has since been stopped.
She also revealed that under Biden’s leadership, the whereabouts of hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied alien children were unknown. “Unaccompanied alien children were lost by the Biden administration, not tracked. We’ve located about 145,000 of them,” Noem stated, highlighting a major failure in monitoring vulnerable minors.
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Noem’s testimony comes as part of her first formal appearance before Congress since assuming leadership of DHS under President Donald Trump’s administration. The hearing focused on border security, immigration enforcement, and ongoing reforms following criticism of previous policies.
The secretary detailed significant operational improvements under her watch, emphasizing that nearly three million illegal immigrants have left the country since Trump took office. She added that for ten consecutive months, zero illegal immigrants were released into the U.S., and U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have substantially reduced fentanyl trafficking by 56% at the border.
“Noem also underscored law enforcement successes, including the arrest of over 1,500 known and suspected terrorists and more than 7,700 gang members, many of whom were allowed entry under the Biden administration’s policies,” according to statements cited by the Republican National Committee research arm.
The DHS secretary noted the dramatic number of unaccompanied alien children who went missing due to prior “dangerous open border policies,” estimating over 450,000 children were lost or unaccounted for. She praised the efforts to locate and reunite more than 145,000 of these children with their families, citing improved coordination between DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Noem’s testimony also addressed broader operational issues, including the use of administrative warrants, which she defended as a legal tool granted by Congress to ensure the return of individuals to their home countries. She said that, in over 400,000 cases using administrative warrants, ICE has entered homes only 28 times, emphasizing that the process is accurate and essential for enforcing immigration law.
Senator Chuck Grassley pressed Noem on the department’s handling of a classified TSA security report and surveillance concerns, noting potential restrictions on congressional oversight. Noem responded that the inspector general’s recommendations have been implemented and that monitoring continues to prevent improper surveillance of political appointees.
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Additionally, Noem highlighted threats faced by ICE officers and DHS personnel, citing an 8,000% increase in death threats against agents and their families, as well as a 1,300% increase in assaults. She stressed that operational safety and enforcing laws passed by Congress remain the department’s core responsibilities.
The hearing occurred during a partial DHS shutdown that has strained key functions due to ongoing budget disagreements. Noem criticized Senate Democrats for holding the department “hostage” over funding and warned that essential services and major events, including security for the upcoming World Cup, could be compromised.
Noem emphasized the need to distinguish between policy disagreements and the department’s operational duties. “It’s our duty as a department to defend our homeland,” she said, framing the testimony as both a warning about past mismanagement and a showcase of the agency’s recent achievements under stricter border enforcement.
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