Overview

• Kristi Noem, newly confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security, visited Del Rio, Texas, for her first tour of the U.S.-Mexico border since taking office.
• Noem joined Border Patrol agents on horseback to survey the area and expressed her commitment to supporting their efforts in securing the border.
• She criticized her predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas, for undermining Border Patrol agents and pledged to provide them with necessary resources and leadership.
• The Del Rio region, previously a hotspot for illegal crossings, has seen a significant decrease in migrant apprehensions since the Trump administration began enhanced enforcement measures.
• Noem also addressed the 2021 controversy involving Border Patrol agents falsely accused of whipping Haitian migrants, emphasizing her support for those agents.