Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated Friday on Fox News that she intends to take action against sanctuary city mayors who refuse to comply with federal immigration laws should President Donald Trump direct her to do so. During her appearance on The Ingraham Angle, Noem was asked whether the administration is ready to enforce consequences on officials who openly defy federal authority.
“Nobody’s above the law. Of course we will. But that’s up to President Trump. President Trump gives us a direction. I don’t sit here and make up a decision on what I do. I follow the law,” Noem said after Ingraham persisted in asking the question multiple times. “We treat everybody the same in this country now that we have President Trump in the White House, and he’s going to give us direction on how we’re going to go after these individuals.”
“The reality is, these sanctuary cities, their laws have caused us problems. They are limiting some of our tools that we want in our toolbox, but we’re going to continue to go in and use our operations and then show in other cities how it’s working and tell our story to the American people,” Noem said. “The people in their community need to hear how their mayors, their elected officials, are protecting the criminals.”
Meanwhile, last week, Trump signed the “Laken Riley Act” into law on Wednesday in the first major piece of illegal immigration reform since taking office after the issue resounded with voters on the 2024 campaign trail.
The immigration-focused legislation—which was a central campaign promise for Trump and congressional Republicans—mandates the detention of immigrants without legal status, including asylum seekers, if they have been accused of crimes such as theft, burglary, or shoplifting. The bill is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant previously arrested for shoplifting after being paroled into the country.
The measure passed in the House with a vote of 263-156, garnering support from only 46 Democrats. The vote represents a significant change for many within the party, as Democrats had largely opposed the measure at different points last year. However, the political landscape surrounding the bill shifted following the election. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had pledged that the Congress would move quickly on passage of the measure.
The law highlights a renewed emphasis in Washington on immigration and border security following Trump’s focus on these issues during his successful presidential campaign, NPR reported. The legislation requires federal immigration enforcement to detain and deport individuals without legal status who are charged with minor theft or shoplifting.