Staff Reports
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem didn’t hide behind bureaucracy or lawyers this week—she stood shoulder to shoulder with officers as a repatriation flight carrying violent criminal illegal aliens left for Panama, showing the American people what decisive enforcement looks like in practice. Noem’s presence was not a photo op; it was a statement that federal officials will not cower while criminals exploit our open borders and prey on our communities.
The passengers on that flight were not innocents seeking opportunity; DHS confirmed they included people convicted of drug trafficking, sex crimes, and aggravated robbery—dangerous offenders who belong back in their home countries, not roaming American streets. Observing the repatriation in Panama was part of a broader strategy to use partner nations to remove the worst offenders efficiently and save U.S. taxpayers millions.
Noem is backing up words with boots-on-the-ground action elsewhere, too. She personally joined federal law enforcement for Operation Midway in Chicago, helping target and remove criminal illegal aliens who have repeatedly victimized local residents, proving that Washington leadership can and should be engaged in enforcement on the ground. Americans tired of sanctuary cities and political theater want results, and Noem is delivering them where it counts.
This hands-on approach is rooted in policy: the Department of Homeland Security under Noem has made clear it will enforce laws that have long been ignored and encourage illegal aliens to self-deport through the CBP Home app and penalties for those who refuse to leave. That common-sense pivot—use every lawful tool to compel departures and prioritize criminals—restores the rule of law and protects American taxpayers and communities.
The results are already apparent in DHS reporting, which the administration cites as showing millions leaving the country and a dramatic drop in illegal crossings, a trend that proves deterrence works when leadership is serious about border security. Skeptics in the media will shriek about optics and process, but reducing criminal presence and easing the strain on our hospitals, schools, and law enforcement is what matters to hardworking families.
Yes, no enforcement program is perfect, and occasional mistakes and legal fights will be seized upon by the left, as seen in isolated cases criticized by some news outlets and judges. Responsible conservatives should acknowledge that no system is flawless while insisting that those errors cannot be an excuse to return to the open-border status quo that endangered Americans for years.
Kristi Noem’s willingness to be physically present—watching flights depart, standing with arresting officers, and pushing transparency about the “worst of the worst”—is the kind of leadership this country needs right now. If Washington wants safer streets and secure borders, it should stop wringing its hands and start supporting officials who will actually remove dangerous foreign criminals and defend American citizens.
