President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Homeland Security secretary portrayed illegal immigration as an "invasion" and the U.S.-Mexico border as a "war zone" during a U.S. Senate confirmation on Friday where she pledged to back Trump's hard line on immigration.

The department that the South Dakota governor seeks to lead will be critical to fulfilling the incoming administration’s promises to quickly crack down on immigration.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of Homeland Security, speaks with Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for her confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

So far, Kristi Noem appears to have strong backing from GOP senators who will be crucial to her confirmation as head of the Department of Homeland Security.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem told lawmakers that she intends to end the use of the CBP One on the first day the Trump administration.

Noem vowed Friday to immediately halt the controversial mobile app that lets migrants register to enter the US.

Kristi Noem, the firebrand South Dakota governor is set to go before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs for her confirmation hearing to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem, the daughter of a farmer, is a former Congresswoman from South Dakota who ran for Governor in 2018.

Trump supporters love her. But the South Dakota governor will likely be asked about family separation at the border - and the dog she says she shot.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is facing senators during her confirmation hearing as she vies to become the next Homeland Security secretary.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Donald Trump's pick to lead the agency central to his vision of cracking down on illegal immigration, faced senators Friday at a confirmation hearing and promised to be a tough hand in carrying out the president's vision for the sprawling Department of Homeland Security.

The first week of confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks concluded Friday with Department of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem.