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Kristi Noem during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, on Jan. 17.Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

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By Alicia Diaz and María Paula Mijares Torres

January 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM UTC

Updated on

January 26, 2025 at 12:40 AM UTC

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The US Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security, mobilizing the sprawling agency to carry out President Donald Trump’s expansive immigration crackdown.

Noem’s nomination was approved 59-34 on an unusual Saturday session of the Senate. The vote clears the way for her to lead a 260,000-person department that will have a key role in Trump’s border security and immigration enforcement agenda. Seven Democrats voted for the Republican nominee.