Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was dismissed by President Donald Trump on Thursday. Her removal follows a period of scrutiny, including contentious congressional hearings about her leadership and actions as head of the agency.
President Trump announced via Truth Social that Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin would replace Noem. While no official reason for her firing was given, NBC reported that sources indicated Trump’s dissatisfaction with Noem’s testimony regarding a $220 million ad campaign encouraging undocumented immigrants to self-deport. According to these sources, Noem claimed Trump was aware of the campaign, but others denied his involvement.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded publicly to Noem’s departure. In a post on X, Pritzker wrote: “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Kristi Noem.” He added in an attached video: “Here is your legacy: Corruption and chaos. Parents and children tear-gassed. Moms and nurses, U.S. citizens, getting shot in the face.”
Noem oversaw both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). She became one of the leading figures behind Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration enforcement initiative in Chicago that resulted in hundreds of arrests—including some involving U.S. citizens and individuals without criminal records. In October, she joined federal agents during a raid at a Home Depot on Chicago’s West Side.
Officials are currently investigating separate incidents where two U.S. citizens were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this year. Another fatal incident occurred in Illinois when agents killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez during a traffic stop in Franklin Park last September.
Throughout the fall, federal agents deployed tear gas against protesters, bystanders, and first responders during immigration enforcement operations across Chicago.
Noem made several visits to Chicago during her tenure and consistently defended her agency’s actions—often labeling peaceful demonstrators as violent rioters.
During an October press conference in Northwest Indiana, she stated: “No American citizens have been arrested or detained,” adding: “We focus on those that are here illegally, and anything that you would hear or report that would be different than that is simply not true and false reporting.” However, at that time ProPublica reported over 170 U.S. citizens had been detained nationwide by immigration authorities since the start of Trump’s second term; several detainees were from Chicago.
In December 2025, Noem attended the U.S. Coast Guard’s annual Christmas Tree Ship event at Navy Pier in Chicago but faced protests during her appearance.
Following her dismissal Thursday, Pritzker posted another message on Threads featuring what appeared to be a mock LinkedIn profile for Noem with the phrase “#opentowork.” He described her as a “public speaker” and an “unlicensed dog euthanizer,” referencing details from her memoir where she recounted shooting one of her hunting dogs—a story for which she received widespread criticism.
Pritzker previously clashed with Noem after ICE agents used tear gas shortly before a children’s Halloween parade in Old Irving Park last year; he requested suspension of immigration enforcement so families could safely celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos. At Gary International Airport days later, Noem rejected his request saying DHS would “absolutely not” stop bringing criminals “off our streets.”
