Kristi Noem, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, delivered a strong message on Thursday, cautioning anyone contemplating attacks on federal agents. She emphasized that those who assault law enforcement officers "will be relentlessly pursued, prosecuted, and face the full force of the law."
During a press briefing in New York, Noem spoke candidly amidst the heightened tensions following the recent death of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minnesota.
Noem also discussed the outcomes of immigration policies under the second term of Donald Trump. Since the beginning of this administration, over 650,000 undocumented immigrants have been arrested, detained, and deported. Additionally, another two million have voluntarily left the country, bringing the total number of foreigners who have departed to 2.6 million.
"Thanks to President Trump, 2.6 million individuals who weren't supposed to be in the United States have left," Noem stated. She added that those who exited voluntarily retain the option to return legally in the future.
Addressing the incident involving Renee Nicole, a 37-year-old woman who died on January 7 in Minneapolis after being shot by an ICE agent, Noem claimed that she used her vehicle as a weapon, prompting the officer to act in self-defense to protect himself and his colleagues.
"The vehicle was employed to run over an agent. It was a violent act, and the officer felt his life was in jeopardy," she explained, while confirming an ongoing investigation. She highlighted that the involved officer is experienced and "acted according to his training."
In light of recent clashes between protesters and federal forces, Noem's rhetoric toughened as she made it clear that the administration will not tolerate any violence against authorities.
"We warn anyone who thinks they can harm an American citizen or law enforcement officer: we will find you and bring you to justice," she declared.
"If you lay a finger on any of our officers, we will catch you, prosecute you, and you will feel the full weight of the law," she concluded.
Understanding U.S. Immigration Policy and Enforcement
What is the current U.S. policy on undocumented immigrants?
Under the current administration, over 650,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported, while another two million have voluntarily left the country, totaling 2.6 million departures.
How does the U.S. government respond to attacks on federal agents?
The U.S. government, as stated by Secretary Noem, will pursue, prosecute, and ensure that those who attack federal agents face the full force of the law.