The hearings for the Trump nominees are well underway. They are causing chaos in D.C.
Because a Trump nominee just nailed a Democrat Senator to the wall in the middle of a hearing.
Trump Nominee Kristi Noem Punches Back At Democrat Senator Trying To Pin Her Down
During a confirmation hearing on Friday, Democratic Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal questioned Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who has been nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Blumenthal pressed Noem on the issue of family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border, specifically focusing on efforts to reunite migrant children with their parents. He urged Noem to commit to continuing these efforts, especially in the case of over 1,000 children still separated from their families.
Blumenthal’s questioning revolved around the need to reunite migrant children who were separated from their parents under previous administration policies. In her response, Noem denied that former President Donald Trump’s administration had a family separation policy. She explained that the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy, while stringent in enforcing U.S. immigration laws, did not specifically mandate the separation of families.
Noem also expressed concern about what she viewed as a much larger issue—the number of children who have gone missing under the Biden administration. She referenced the troubling statistic of over 300,000 migrant children who had been lost track of during the current administration. “What I’m alarmed by is the over 300,000 children that went missing during the Biden administration,” Noem said. “This administration’s lack of desire to find out where those children are or what they may be going through is alarming to me.”
Blumenthal quickly intervened, asking Noem to focus on the present issue of reunifying families rather than discussing past policies. “My time is expiring so I’m just gonna interrupt again with apologies to say, put aside, let’s put aside the labels, let’s put aside what happened in the past. There’s still 1,000 children who are separated and waiting to be reunited. I’d like your commitment that you’re going to continue the effort to reunite them with their parents,” Blumenthal said.
Noem responded that while she recognized the importance of reuniting separated children, she could not ignore the issue of the thousands of migrant children who had gone missing under the Biden administration. “Senator, keeping families together is critically important to me and this country,” she said. “I’m concerned about Laken Riley’s family, that they no longer have her. I’m concerned about the fact that we no longer have her. I’m concerned that we have people in this country that don’t know where their children are or people in other countries who sent their children here and they’ve been lost by this administration.”
Noem made it clear that keeping families together would be a priority for her, while also focusing on combating child trafficking and ensuring children are protected under U.S. law. “So yes, my focus will be to keep families together, we will uphold our law and we’ll make sure we’re doing everything we can to keep our children safe from the trafficking and drug epidemic that’s hit this country.”
The issue of missing migrant children has gained significant attention following a report from the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in August. The report revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had lost track of at least 32,000 migrant children who entered the U.S. and were released from DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) custody since 2019. These children missed their court dates, increasing their vulnerability to trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor.
The OIG report also found that 291,000 migrant children never received court dates at all, placing them at even higher risk. Additionally, the report raised concerns about the safety of children placed with adult sponsors, many of whom had criminal histories. While HHS has managed to reunite about one-third of unaccompanied migrant children with their parents, the remaining children were sent to live with relatives or, in some cases, strangers. Internal investigations have shown that some of these placements were made with individuals deemed unsuitable to care for children.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, also released a report accusing the Biden administration of widespread failures that led to abuse and exploitation of migrant children. The report detailed what Cassidy described as systemic failures, allowing the trafficking and mistreatment of vulnerable children.
The exchange between Blumenthal and Noem brought attention to the ongoing debate over family separation and the treatment of migrant children. Both lawmakers agreed that keeping families intact is essential, but their differing perspectives on how to handle migrant children point to the continuing challenges in U.S. immigration policy.
Alejandro Mayorkas was THE WORST Secretary in the history of DHS. He has been a disgrace.
Kristi Noem is already telling the truth — something Mayorkas refused to do — our border is NOT secure and we must fix it NOW. pic.twitter.com/rdR3mFACZZ
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 17, 2025
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border has sharply increased under Biden’s administration. In fiscal year 2021, CBP recorded more than 1.7 million encounters, the highest number in two decades. In fiscal year 2022, that number surpassed 2.3 million. These statistics highlight a dramatic uptick in illegal immigration compared to the previous years under former President Donald Trump, where numbers were also high but showed a declining trend as his administration focused on stricter border enforcement measures.
The Biden administration also ended the construction of the border wall, another move that critics argue has weakened deterrence. The administration emphasized a more humane approach to immigration, including prioritizing the processing of migrant families and individuals rather than mass deportations. This shift in approach has led to concerns about “pull factors” encouraging migration from countries in Central America, Mexico, and beyond.
The Biden administration’s handling of the migrant surge has been scrutinized not only for its potential failure to curb illegal immigration but also for the safety and security risks associated with such high levels of migration. Reports of overcrowded detention facilities, particularly for minors, have raised concerns over the administration’s ability to provide adequate care and oversight. Additionally, the significant rise in human trafficking, smuggling operations, and drug seizures at the border has posed new security risks, which many see as a result of the heightened migration flow.
Simply put, the nation is very much looking forward to turning the page on the Joe Biden administration era that has, no doubt, fostered one of the most chaotic southern border crises in American history.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
