Sen. Bernie Moreno ripped the Biden administration's immigration policies in Kristi Noem's DHS confirmation hearing (Getty Images)
"So, I think sometimes, in D.C., we tend to complicate things," Moreno told Noem. "There is a current secretary of Homeland Security, so why don't we take this opportunity to do a little job review and compare and contrast him to you? So just if you don't mind, I'll ask you some questions, and you can give me an answer. Secretary Mayorkas allowed about 400 people on a terror watch list to come into this country illegally. If you were confirmed as secretary of Homeland Security, how many people on the terror watch list would you allow into this country?"
Noem responded that she would "work every single day" to make sure the number is "zero."
"When you look at the 382 that Joe Biden has let in, and the policies continue, is shocking and needs to be changed immediately," Noem said.
"Mayorokas let in about 12,000 murderers. How many would you target to let into this country?" Moreno asked.
TRUMP, CHINA'S XI SPEAK ON PHONE AHEAD OF INAUGURATION
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is sworn in during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on her nomination to be Secretary of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on January 17, 2025. (Getty)
Noem also told Moreno that the practice of flying hundreds of thousands of migrants into the United States on jets would halt under her tenure.
"And how many illegals will you plan to house in luxury hotel rooms in Manhattan, at a cost of $6,000 per month?" Moreno asked.
"Clearly, senator, during this election, the American people said they did not support that and that that would not be a part of this new administration," Noem said.
"I'm going to end my time with a startling statistic and actually a challenge to the Democrat Party," Moreno said after asking Noem to confirm other aspects of the Biden administration immigration policy that she would halt.
"When Mayorkas was confirmed, every single Democrat voted to confirm him, and six Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in that confirmation. If we get to the vote, hopefully, chairman, we could do that Monday, because we cannot wait one single day without you being in charge of that department. We should have 100 percent, 100 senators vote for your confirmation. This will be the litmus test in my mind as to whether we have a Democrat Party that's actually serious about doing bipartisan things like securing this country and protecting our citizens."
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noem-makes-prediction-laken-riley-freshman-senator-rips-mayorkas