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 several 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 analysis also noted that the sole conviction for many of the people on the list was “Illegal Re-Entry,” which indicates that they had been deported before but had returned to the United States without permission. According to the research, this allegation may not align with the public’s understanding of what is considered the “worst of the worst,” as Noem has said.

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 history of multiple traffic offenses that have never resulted in serious repercussions. In fact, Noem acknowledged that she had received more than 20 traffic fines since the late 1980s when running for a congressional seat in 2010.

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 fresh analysis of deportee cases calls into question both the narrative that Noem has provided about the deportation of criminals and the larger strategy that DHS has adopted under her direction. Even while she insists that the government is working to remove the “worst criminals,” the results of our inquiry indicate that many of the people deported had committed less serious crimes, including traffic or minor drug charges.

The term “worst criminals” may be more expansive than the public has been led to think, and many deportations may include people whose actions would be deemed relatively minor in other situations, as Noem’s statements continue to be contested. Particularly for people whose actions don’t appear to justify such harsh penalties, this calls into question the justice and proportionality of deportation policy.

Kristi Noem’s net worth

Although exact numbers vary, Kristi Noem’s net worth was estimated by OpenSecrets to be around $2.3 million in 2017 and could reach $5 million by the middle of 2025. Her family’s insurance company, Noem Insurance, as well as assets like real estate, farms, and investments with husband Brian Noem’s business, producing a sizable income, are the main sources of her wealth, according to Forbes.

The Government Salary of Noem

According to Forbes, Noem makes an estimated $235,100 year as Secretary of Homeland Security. According to Noem’s most recent financial statement, his pay as South Dakota’s governor was $241,519, or around $121,000 per year. As a member of Congress, her annual salary was probably about $174,000.

Kristi Noem Existence and Academia

Kristi Noem, a South Dakota native, graduated from Hamlin High School in 1990 and received the title of South Dakota Snow Queen. Kristi was unable to complete her college studies owing to her responsibilities to maintain the family farm.

She later earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science from South Dakota State University in 2012 while working for Congress. She was referred to as the “most powerful intern” due to her contributions as a congressional intern. She progressively started her political career as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Kristi Noem Politics

Noem represented the area’s sixth district in the South Dakota House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006. In addition to winning the seat with 39% of the vote, she was re-elected with 41% of the vote. She officially enters the political sphere this year. During her time as the Republican from 2007 to 2010, Kristi sponsored eleven measures that were eventually signed into law.