Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appeared before a House Appropriations panel as part of the 2026 budget hearings, defending the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. She emphasized record-low border encounters and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to deporting those in the country illegally. While Republicans praised her work, Democrats challenged her on legal concerns, including the deportation of American-born children alongside their deported mother and funding freezes for FEMA. Secretary Noem also outlined changes to the Secret Service, shifting recruitment priorities away from DEI objectives toward operational readiness. Capitol Hill Correspondent Erik Rosales reports.

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