Thousands of immigrants, most wearing thermal blankets, await processing at a U.S. Border Patrol transit center on Dec. 19, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images)
The department’s finger-pointing at Biden has been a central theme of Secretary Kristi Noem’s and DHS’s position, and the Trump administration continues deportation efforts amid criticism from Democrats in Washington and across the country.
During an interview along the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas, earlier this month, Noem touted efforts that led to what the White House says is the "the most secure border in the history of this nation."
"In just a year's time, we've gone from this type of a situation under the previous administration to safety," Noem told Fox News Digital during an exclusive interview. "Thousands of people died [at the border] because Joe Biden and the Democrats decided to cut the fence and allow an invasion to happen that partnered with the cartels to bring in unprecedented drugs and trafficking and sex trafficking, children being abused."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats aren't backing down from their list of DHS demands as the partial government shutdown rages on. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In Washington, a partial government shutdown over DHS funding continues, with Democrats demanding new policies for ICE operations and Noem and her department remain determined to deport illegal migrants.
Roughly 90% of DHS employees are deemed essential, and are required to work without pay. ICE is already almost entirely funded through previous provisions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and other legislation.
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Border Czar Tom Homan said during an interview with CNN that the shutdown will have "no impact" on immigration enforcement operations currently taking place in the U.S.
"[Democrats] have chosen to act against the American people for political reasons, and now we have FEMA workers, the men and women of the United State Coast Guard, [the] men and women of TSA who keep our airports moving who will be working without paychecks for no good reason other than the Democrats wanting to pick a fight with Donald Trump," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News. Story tips can be sent to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and on X @MizellPreston
Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News Digital covering breaking news.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs-says-8-percent-nicaraguas-entire-population-illegally-entered-us-under-biden