Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Denounces Confirmation of Kristi Noem as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
- Contact
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday, January 25, the Senate confirmed South Dakota governor Kristi Noem to the position of Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem has supported policies that target immigrant communities, refugees and asylum-seekers, and separate families.
As an organization that advocates for fair and equitable policies for immigrant communities and supports humanitarian migration, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) denounces this confirmation, and releases the following statement in response:
“Advancing Justice – AAJC is extremely disappointed by the recent confirmation of Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Her views on asylum and a pathway to citizenship show a disregard for the rule of law and lack morality and respect for humanity.
“We need a Secretary of Homeland Security who prioritizes solutions that support welcoming immigrants, rather than furthering baseless conspiracy theories that stoke fears of criminalization and invasion.
“Prior to Trump’s first election in 2016, Noem was against policies like a Muslim ban. Since Trump’s initial presidency, Noem has joined the bandwagon of extreme politicians who want to ignore the U.S. Constitution in conversations around birthright citizenship, deny DACA provisions as unconstitutional, and continue to support dangerous, anti-immigrant policies.
“Noem is not the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security that our nation needs.”