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Homeland Security Secretary Noem Marks One Year of Laken Riley Act Amidst Public Scrutiny
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Laken Riley Act, a significant piece of legislation signed by President Donald Trump at the outset of his second presidential term. The Act mandates the federal detention of non-citizens accused of specific crimes, including theft, burglary, assault on law enforcement, and any offense resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
On Thursday, January 29, Secretary Noem praised President Trump’s initiative, noting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has since arrested over 21,400 individuals under the Act’s provisions. To mark this milestone, the 54-year-old politician shared an Instagram video stating, “Thank you, President Trump, for signing the Laken Riley Act.”
In her message, Secretary Noem emphasized the Act’s role in empowering authorities to “arrest and remove the millions of violent criminal illegal aliens unleashed on the United States by the previous administration.” She added that these individuals will now “face justice and be removed from our country.”
Concluding her remarks, Noem stated, “We can never bring Laken back, but we can do everything in our power to bring these heinous criminals to justice. I am so proud of what our brave men and women of ICE have done to remove these criminals from America’s streets.”
However, the Secretary’s celebratory post garnered a mixed reaction on social media. Critics responded by assigning her a new nickname, “KRUSTY KRISTI,” in the comments section, a sentiment that was met with agreement by some.
Others called for her resignation, with comments such as “IMPEACH, INDICT, IMPRISON,” and direct questions like, “Haven’t you been asked to resign?” Another user urged, “Girl just call it a day already.”
This anniversary comes during a period of heightened national debate regarding law enforcement and immigration policies. Secretary Noem’s recent remarks following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis earlier this month have drawn significant criticism from both Democratic and Republican leaders.
Calls for President Trump to dismiss Secretary Noem have come from figures including Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis, and Democratic Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez, among others.