Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Sunday (March 9) that the United States is now "President Donald Trump's country" as his administration continues efforts to tighten border security.
Speaking on CBS during an interview with host Margaret Brennan, Noem defended the administration&rsquo;s decision to maintain a strong military presence at the southern border, despite border crossings reaching a 25-year low.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-miffed-with-uk-after-king-charles-welcomes-zelensky-trudeau-to-his-home-8837379">'Makes him feel less special': Trump miffed with UK after King Charles welcomes Zelensky, Trudeau to his home</a>
&ldquo;There are 6,000 U.S. military personnel working at the border now. That number could go up to 9,000 by the end of the month,&rdquo; Brennan pointed out.
Brennan then asked, &ldquo;How long do you have to keep them there if the numbers are already dropping like this?&rdquo;
In response, Noem stressed the government&rsquo;s commitment to border security, saying, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll continue the partnership with the Department of Defense, but also we&rsquo;ve got partnerships with Commerce, with the Attorney General&rsquo;s office. We&rsquo;ll keep them there until that border is completely secure, and we see all-time record lows of encounters.&rdquo;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tariff-terrorism-baba-ramdev-accuses-trump-of-ripping-off-democracy-by-threatening-poor-nations-8837248">&lsquo;Tariff terrorism&rsquo;: Baba Ramdev condemns reciprocal tax proposed by Trump, accuses him of ripping off democracy</a>
She further added that the approach marked a shift from the previous administration. &ldquo;Our Border Patrol's doing fantastic work, but we're going to keep them there till the whole world gets the message that this isn't Joe Biden's world anymore. This is President Donald Trump's country, where we have a border, where we have laws, and it applies equally to everybody,&rdquo; she said.
Noem added, &ldquo;I think that is what is so refreshing, is that we're not picking and choosing winners and losers anymore. Americans have to live by the law, so do those who come to this country.&rdquo;
<h2>New leadership at ICE as deportation push continues</h2>
Alongside the border security measures, Noem also announced leadership changes at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday. The move comes as the agency struggles to meet President Trump&rsquo;s goal of large-scale deportation operations targeting immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trumps-russia-reset-raises-fear-of-espionage-as-us-considers-allowing-diplomats-back-in-8837068">&lsquo;Rubbing hands with glee&rsquo;: Trump's Russia reset raises espionage risk as US considers allowing diplomats back in</a>
Trump's administration removed 37,660 individuals during his first month in office, according to Homeland Security data first reported by Reuters. This figure falls short of the monthly average of 57,000 deportations and returns recorded in the final year of Joe Biden&rsquo;s presidency.
During his campaign, Trump had vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. However, last month, acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello was reassigned after failing to meet expectations.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/liars-in-trumps-immigration-department-dhs-performs-polygraph-tests-on-staff-to-prosecute-raid-leaks-8836753">Liars in Trump&rsquo;s immigration department? DHS performs polygraph tests on staff to &lsquo;prosecute&rsquo;&nbsp;raid&nbsp;&lsquo;leaks&rsquo;</a>
Noem announced that Todd Lyons, ICE&rsquo;s acting executive associate director, will now serve as the agency&rsquo;s acting director. Additionally, Madison Sheahan, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, has been appointed as deputy director.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: “Our Border Patrol's doing fantastic work, but we're going to keep them there till the whole world gets the message that this isn't Joe Biden's world anymore," Noem said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Sunday (March 9) that the United States is now "President Donald Trump's country" as his administration continues efforts to tighten border security. Speaking on CBS during an interview with host Margaret Brennan, Noem defended the administration’s decision to maintain a strong military presence at the southern border, despite border crossings reaching a 25-year low. Also read: 'Makes him feel less special': Trump miffed with UK after King Charles welcomes Zelensky, Trudeau to his home “There are 6,000 U.S. military personnel working at the border now. That number could go up to 9,000 by the end of the month,” Brennan pointed out. Brennan then asked, “How long do you have to keep them there if the numbers are already dropping like this?” In response, Noem stressed the government’s commitment to border security, saying, “We’ll continue the partnership with the Department of Defense, but also we’ve got partnerships with Commerce, with the Attorney General’s office. We’ll keep them there until that border is completely secure, and we see all-time record lows of encounters.” Also read: ‘Tariff terrorism’: Baba Ramdev condemns reciprocal tax proposed by Trump, accuses him of ripping off democracy She further added that the approach marked a shift from the previous administration. “Our Border Patrol's doing fantastic work, but we're going to keep them there till the whole world gets the message that this isn't Joe Biden's world anymore. This is President Donald Trump's country, where we have a border, where we have laws, and it applies equally to everybody,” she said. Noem added, “I think that is what is so refreshing, is that we're not picking and choosing winners and losers anymore. Americans have to live by the law, so do those who come to this country.” New leadership at ICE as deportation push continues Alongside the border security measures, Noem also announced leadership changes at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday. The move comes as the agency struggles to meet President Trump’s goal of large-scale deportation operations targeting immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Also read: ‘Rubbing hands with glee’: Trump's Russia reset raises espionage risk as US considers allowing diplomats back in Trump's administration removed 37,660 individuals during his first month in office, according to Homeland Security data first reported by Reuters. This figure falls short of the monthly average of 57,000 deportations and returns recorded in the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency. During his campaign, Trump had vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. However, last month, acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello was reassigned after failing to meet expectations. Also read: Liars in Trump’s immigration department? DHS performs polygraph tests on staff to ‘prosecute’ raid ‘leaks’ Noem announced that Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting executive associate director, will now serve as the agency’s acting director. Additionally, Madison Sheahan, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, has been appointed as deputy director. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Not Biden’s world anymore’: DHS chief says US is now ‘Trump’s country’ as border crackdown continues

Taking inspiration from his&nbsp;predecessor Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden is considering an executive action to address the border crisis. In other news, several people were killed in southern Venezuela after an illegal 'open-pit' gold mine collapsed in the Angostura municipality.&nbsp;

Click on headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taking-leaf-out-of-trumps-book-biden-considers-executive-action-to-restrict-asylum-at-border-692520">Taking leaf out of Trump's book? Biden considers executive action to restrict asylum at border</a>

US President Joe Biden is mulling executive action that would prevent illegal migrants from seeking asylum in the country after they have crossed the southern border, according to US media reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/02/21/413347-the-battle-for-kyiv-2024-02-21t100259345.jpg?imwidth=500" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/southern-venezuela-illegal-gold-mine-collapse-kills-dozens-in-bolivar-state-692504">Southern Venezuela: Illegal gold mine collapse kills dozens in Bolivar state</a>

Several people were killed in a devastating incident in Venezuela as an illegal 'Bulla Loca' gold mine collapsed on February 20 in the state of Bolivar, which requires a seven-hour boat journey from the nearest town, La Paragua.&nbsp;

<img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2024/02/22/413546-venezuela.png?imwidth=500" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-police-officer-who-struck-and-killed-indian-student-jaahnavi-kandula-wont-be-charged-692499">Jaahnavi Kandula's death: US police officer who struck and killed Indian student won't face criminal charges</a>

The Seattle police officer who killed&nbsp;Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student last year, won't be criminally charged, the prosecutors informed&nbsp;on Wednesday (Feb 21).

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/wion-world-of-sports/biden-announces-fresh-student-loan-relief-for-150000-americans-692498">Biden announces fresh student loan relief for 150,000 Americans</a>

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (Feb 21) announced he was extending his student loan forgiveness programme by cancelling loans of an additional 150,000 Americans worth $1.2 billion.

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/icj-should-not-order-israeli-withdrawal-from-occupied-palestinian-territories-us-says-692505">Watch | ICJ should not order Israeli withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories, US says</a>

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Taking inspiration from his predecessor Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden is considering an executive action to address the border crisis. In other news, several people were killed in southern Venezuela after an illegal 'open-pit' gold mine collapsed in the Angostura municipality.

Taking inspiration from his predecessor Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden is considering an executive action to address the border crisis. In other news, several people were killed in southern Venezuela after an illegal 'open-pit' gold mine collapsed in the Angostura municipality. Click on headlines to read more: Taking leaf out of Trump's book? Biden considers executive action to restrict asylum at border US President Joe Biden is mulling executive action that would prevent illegal migrants from seeking asylum in the country after they have crossed the southern border, according to US media reports. Southern Venezuela: Illegal gold mine collapse kills dozens in Bolivar state Several people were killed in a devastating incident in Venezuela as an illegal 'Bulla Loca' gold mine collapsed on February 20 in the state of Bolivar, which requires a seven-hour boat journey from the nearest town, La Paragua. Jaahnavi Kandula's death: US police officer who struck and killed Indian student won't face criminal charges The Seattle police officer who killed Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student last year, won't be criminally charged, the prosecutors informed on Wednesday (Feb 21). Biden announces fresh student loan relief for 150,000 Americans US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (Feb 21) announced he was extending his student loan forgiveness programme by cancelling loans of an additional 150,000 Americans worth $1.2 billion. Watch | ICJ should not order Israeli withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories, US says ×

Morning news brief: Biden's proposed border plan; Venezuela illegal gold mine collapse, and more

The United States will expand the scope of a program that returns non-Mexican migrants crossing Mexico's border to that country to await their US&nbsp;court hearings, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/immigration-hawk-promoted-to-us-homeland-security-acting-deputy-262013">Department of Homeland Security</a> said on Thursday.

Washington already has sent more than 56,000 migrants to Mexico under the program, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The majority have been Central Americans applying for US asylum.

The effort — which had been implemented over the past year at ports of entry in Texas and California — will be applied at a port of entry south of Tucson, Ariz. Previously, migrants encountered in that area had been sent to El Paso, Texas, to process their return to Mexico.

US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-a-man-of-his-word-on-denuclearization-donald-trump-271377">President Donald Trump</a> has made immigration enforcement a major focus of his first term in office and has continued to press the issue in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election.

Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a written statement on Thursday that the MPP program has been "an extremely effective tool" for the United States.

Advocates counter that the initiative exposes migrants to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-cabinet-opposed-mexican-cartel-policy-trump-forged-ahead-270508">violence in Mexico</a> and restricts their ability to seek protection in the United States. The US&nbsp;consulate in Mexico’s border city of Nuevo Laredo issued a security alert on Wednesday, warning against gun battles and urging government employees to take precautions.

Mexico’s asylum agency, known as COMAR, said on Wednesday that it had received 66,915 applications for asylum in 2019, up nearly 126 per cent&nbsp;from the previous year.

The agency has struggled to process the crush of applications with limited resources. COMAR received 20 million pesos ($1.05 million) in funding from the Mexican government in 2019, the lowest sum in seven years.

In December, US&nbsp;border authorities expanded a separate program to process asylum cases rapidly to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, according to CBS News. The programme, known as Prompt Asylum Claim Review (PACR), had been launched months earlier as a pilot in the El Paso area.

US&nbsp;authorities have not specified the criteria to place migrants in a growing array of border programs, which include MPP, PACR and another initiative that sends asylum seekers from Honduras and El Salvador to request protection in Guatemala.

Rodney Scott, acting deputy chief of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-citizen-dead-in-us-custody-ice-271529">US&nbsp;Border Patrol</a>, told reporters in December that the factors "change on a daily basis" but are determined in coordination with the receiving countries.

The United States will expand the scope of a program that returns non-Mexican migrants crossing Mexico's border to that country to await their US court hearings, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday.

The United States will expand the scope of a program that returns non-Mexican migrants crossing Mexico's border to that country to await their US court hearings, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday. Washington already has sent more than 56,000 migrants to Mexico under the program, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The majority have been Central Americans applying for US asylum. The effort — which had been implemented over the past year at ports of entry in Texas and California — will be applied at a port of entry south of Tucson, Ariz. Previously, migrants encountered in that area had been sent to El Paso, Texas, to process their return to Mexico. US President Donald Trump has made immigration enforcement a major focus of his first term in office and has continued to press the issue in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election. Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a written statement on Thursday that the MPP program has been "an extremely effective tool" for the United States. Advocates counter that the initiative exposes migrants to violence in Mexico and restricts their ability to seek protection in the United States. The US consulate in Mexico’s border city of Nuevo Laredo issued a security alert on Wednesday, warning against gun battles and urging government employees to take precautions. Mexico’s asylum agency, known as COMAR, said on Wednesday that it had received 66,915 applications for asylum in 2019, up nearly 126 per cent from the previous year. The agency has struggled to process the crush of applications with limited resources. COMAR received 20 million pesos ($1.05 million) in funding from the Mexican government in 2019, the lowest sum in seven years. In December, US border authorities expanded a separate program to process asylum cases rapidly to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, according to CBS News. The programme, known as Prompt Asylum Claim Review (PACR), had been launched months earlier as a pilot in the El Paso area. US authorities have not specified the criteria to place migrants in a growing array of border programs, which include MPP, PACR and another initiative that sends asylum seekers from Honduras and El Salvador to request protection in Guatemala. Rodney Scott, acting deputy chief of the US Border Patrol, told reporters in December that the factors "change on a daily basis" but are determined in coordination with the receiving countries.

US to expand scope of program to return migrants to Mexico: Department of Homeland Security

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 25) approved a $4.5 billion aid package to address the migrant surge along the U.S.-Mexico border, including new standards for migrants in custody following reports of poor conditions facing young children at overcrowded facilities.

US House passes border aid bill, Trump vows veto