DHS Deportation Findings Expose Discrepancy with Noem’s Claims of Targeting 'Worst Criminals'

A recent review of deportee profiles posted on the Department of Homeland Security’s website challenges claims made by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem about the agency’s deportation practices, according to a report by Homeland Security. Noem has repeatedly stated that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is focused on deporting the “worst criminals,” but the findings suggest a different reality.

The review uncovered a number of deportees who were removed from the U.S. for minor offenses, many of which involved traffic violations. The report highlights that at least 30 individuals had been deported due to infractions as trivial as traffic tickets. This raises questions about Noem’s portrayal of DHS’s deportation operations.

“Traffic infractions were not the only minor offenses that landed detainees on the ‘worst of the worst’ list,” the report states. It goes on to explain that individuals who had committed offenses such as marijuana possession, a charge that is not even considered criminal in some states, were among those on the list. Specifically, a Jamaican man arrested in Tampa, Florida, and a Cuban national apprehended in Houston, Texas, both faced deportation after being caught with marijuana, which is legal in certain states.

The review also pointed out that for many of the individuals listed, the only conviction recorded was “Illegal Re-Entry,” meaning they had previously been deported but had re-entered the U.S. without authorization. The report suggests that this charge does not necessarily fit the public’s perception of what constitutes the “worst of the worst,” as Noem has claimed.

Kristi Noem during the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images)

In addition to scrutinizing the DHS’s deportation actions, The Daily Beast report also draws attention to Noem’s own history with traffic violations. The governor has a past of traffic infractions that, despite being numerous, never led to significant consequences. In fact, during her campaign for a Congressional seat in 2010, Noem admitted to having accumulated over 20 traffic tickets since the late 1980s.

Some of these violations included failure to stop at a traffic light and driving with invalid plates. Noem’s own record of traffic violations seems to stand in stark contrast to the severity of the deportation measures she has endorsed. The report notes the irony in how minor offenses such as these have led to deportations for others, while Noem’s own violations have not resulted in similar disruptions to her life.

This new review of deportee cases brings into question the broader approach taken by DHS under Noem’s leadership and the narrative she has presented regarding the deportation of criminals. While she continues to maintain that the agency is focusing on removing the “worst criminals,” the findings of this investigation suggest that many of those deported have been involved in less severe offenses, often related to traffic or minor drug violations.

As Noem’s claims continue to be challenged, it becomes increasingly clear that the definition of “worst criminals” may be broader than the public has been led to believe, and that many deportations may involve individuals whose offenses would be considered relatively minor in other circumstances. This raises important questions about the fairness and proportionality of deportation policies, especially for those whose offenses do not seem to warrant such extreme measures.