Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Contradicts Statistics Published by DHS & Continues to Lie About ICE Officer Who Recorded Himself Murdering a US Citizen in Minnesota

Secretary Noem Says the Federal Court’s Order to Enjoin ICE From Using Chemical Weapons Against Protestors Doesn’t Change Anything

“That federal order was a little ridiculous because that federal judge came down and told us we couldn’t do what we already aren’t doing. We, we are- have not engaged-in any-We only use those chemical agents when there’s violence happening and perpetuating and you need to be able to establish law in order to keep people safe. That’s the only situation, so that judge’s order didn’t change anything for how we’re operating on the ground because it’s basically telling us to do what we’ve already been doing.”

That federal order was a little ridiculous because that federal judge came down and told us we couldn’t do what we already aren’t doing.
— Kristi Noem on Face the Nation 1/18/2026

When she was asked about a family who had chemical agents deployed their vehicle which caused a 6-month-old child in the vehicle being hospitalized after he stopped breathing, Secretary Noem blamed the officer’s actions on protestors and the Governor of Minnesota. She said, “that family was caught up in that situation because of violent protesters that were impeding law enforcement operations, and that family would have never been in that situation if those protesters had been acting peacefully and law enforcement was able to do their job without being threatened. And, so, it’s a terrible situation that that family had to go through, and I hope it never happens again. But we need to remember that because the mayor and the governor have allowed this kind of violence to be perpetuated across Minneapolis is why there’s other innocent people that are impacted throughout the city but throughout their state as well.”

These are highly trained individuals that are here and in Minneapolis doing operations.
— Kristi Noem on Face the Nation 1/18/2026

Regarding the training of ICE officers Secretary Noem described them as being already being well-trained and not needing any additional training. She described the officers as “highly trained individuals that are here and in Minneapolis doing operations, they are and frankly–The Minneapolis chief of police is not an expert– absolutely. They are trained at that. Their specialized skill set is being utilized for where they are located and the jobs that they are doing in Minneapolis and across other cities across the country. We, we do- they have an incredible amount of training that is ongoing throughout their careers.”

The Secretary of Homeland of Security Doesn’t Know Basics of Immigration Law or the U.S. Constitution

Secretary Noem was asked, “What’s the breakdown of the percentage of those who you have in custody who have actually committed a criminal offense versus just the civil infraction?”

She answered with a false statement that she has been repeating almost daily since being appointed to her position in 2025, “Every single individual has committed a crime, but 70 percent of them have committed or have charges against them on violent crimes and crimes that they are charged with or have been convicted of that have come from other countries.” DHS has been repeating that claim in videos they are posting all over social media (like this video where almost every claim in untrue: https://youtu.be/UAvPCMyjzvM) but that number is completely fabricated.

Secretary Noem also consistently misstates the requirements for law enforcement to stop and detain people under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Secretary Noem went on the news and told the American people that they need to carry a passport or proof of their immigration status because ICE agents may ask them for proof of their identification or immigration status. The Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, then went on TV to clarify but she also got it wrong saying that people “in the vicinity of an operation” are required to “validate their identity.” Deputy Secretary said that this was confirmed by the Supreme Court in “a case that recently came out of Las Angeles.” There was no such case. The Supreme Court never said that. Several Federal Courts have actually called out Secretary Noem and Assistant Secretary McLaughlin for saying misstating the law.

Secretary Noem confirmed this policy and said that this was what ICE has always done and has always been the policy. To be clear, being in the vicinity of an ICE operation is not grounds for a law enforcement agent to stop and detain someone and demand they show ID. It is crazy that the Secretary of Homeland Security does not know this.

Secretary Noem and Assistant Secretary McLaughlin have both stated multiple times that DHS/ICE can make arrests based on reasonable suspicion. This is not the case. Law enforcement needs probable cause to arrest someone. Reasonable suspicion may be enough to question someone but not to arrest them. Further, being in the vicinity of ICE is not reasonable suspicion. Again, a Federal Judge has specifically mentioned these false claims in a decision back in December 2025, noting that both Secretary Noem and Assistant Secretary McLaughlin have made these false statements on TV and have posted them on social media multiple times. This video by Ryan Goodman covers this and explains it very well.

DHS Has Been Utilizing Propaganda in an Unprecedented Manner & They Have Been Ramping Up Their Efforts Since Late 2025

DHS is sending videographers out with ICE and CBP teams to make very cinematic videos for social media that they then set to hip-hop songs and post like an NFL promo video. They are appearing on TV news to push their narrative. Most of all they are posting online constantly and “debunking” news articles and Federal Judges by simply restating their lies or making ad hominem attacks on the Judges or the people they are arresting.

For instance, DHS has a section of their website that is dedicated to “debunking” news stories that they claim to be “Fake News.” The screenshot to the right is an example of how they claim to “debunk” a news story not by actually addressing the claim but by talking about something else.

In this example the claim is that Javier Ramirez was driven around for hours and was not allowed to speak to a lawyer or any family members for three days. The way they “debunk” that claim is by saying that, “Ramirez was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer and interfering with agents performing their duties.” How does that debunk the claim they are labeling as false? Was he driven around for hours and not allowed to speak with a lawyer or family members for three days? They don’t even address that so it seems like it is not a false claim but a true one. If that was a false claim wouldn’t they say that Ramirez was not driven around for hours or held three days without access to a lawyer or the ability to contact his family?