Overview

• Kristi Noem's live-tweeting and photo-ops during ICE raids have reportedly compromised operational security, including a January raid in New York City that resulted in fewer arrests than planned.
• Noem's leadership style emphasizes high-visibility stunts, such as riding ATVs at the border and posing with ICE gear, which some officials claim prioritize optics over effective enforcement.
• Internal tensions at DHS have emerged, with figures like Tom Homan and Stephen Miller assuming logistical control, leaving Noem sidelined in key operational roles.
• Despite a $200 million ad campaign urging undocumented immigrants to self-deport, deportation numbers remain far below the administration's goal of one million per year, causing frustration among senior officials, including President Trump.
• Noem's approach has drawn criticism from ICE staff and political stakeholders, with accusations that her focus on publicity is hindering agency effectiveness and operational planning.