Noem repeated a falsehood that Trump shared during the 2024 presidential campaign. There are not more than 13,000 murderers or nearly 16,000 sex offenders "loose" in the U.S. Her statement is based on a misinterpreted letter sent by ICE in late 2024.

Kristi Noem, a two-term governor and former U.S. congresswoman, was chosen by the president-elect to lead the department responsible for key immigration and border-related actions that will be