Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Following mounting criticism over her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, Kristi Noem's tenure as secretary of the department will end come the end of March, as announced by President Donald Trump on Thursday.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said Noem "has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!)." He added he was making Noem a "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas," a new security initiative that he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere.
Noem has faced waves of criticism as she’s overseen Trump’s immigration crackdown, especially since the shooting deaths of the two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration enforcement officers. In the immediate aftermath of the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Noem portrayed both of them as aggressors, contradicting widely viewed videos and descriptions of their deaths from bystanders.
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Local Republican strategist Carl Calabrese is not surprised with Trump's decision on Thursday, feeling Noem has been on very thin ice for a while.
"Ever since she began her very, very extensive media campaign, which pretty much featured her on horseback, at the border and in full body armor. And then it turned out that it cost $220 million. Apparently the President didn't approve of that, and she said he did under oath in front of Congress. I guess that was the straw that broke the camel's back," said Calabrese in an interview with WBEN.
Calabrese points to a number of mistakes that he felt led to her eventual reassignment.
"I started to question her judgment when I saw these commercials, and then when she referred to the first person who was shot by ICE officials in an attempt to run over an officer as a 'domestic terrorist'. I thought that was very inappropriate," Calabrese said. "I'm not questioning the use of lethal force with someone who aims a car at an officer, especially one officer who had already been hit by a car and been hospitalized for it, but she wasn't a domestic terrorist in the way we think of it."
He adds it will be interesting to see whether Noem's reassignment has any real significance, or if it's just a way to soften the embarrassment of being demoted.
Calabrese believes much of the reaction to Noem's firing is more so going to be about her replacement, and not so much where he's putting her.
"It's just the ways of Washington that if you're going to fire a high profile person, if you can soften the blow and ease the embarrassment by reassigning, that's kind of the way of the world," he explained. "I don't think that's going to get much of a reaction."
President Trump's plan is to nominate Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as Noem's replacement as Homeland Security secretary. Mullin has become one of Trump’s fiercest defenders in the U.S. Senate, and is now positioned to join his administration.
"Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security," Trump posted on his Truth Social account.
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Calabrese believes Mullin is a very strong choice to replace Noem as Homeland Security secretary.
"This guy's one of my favorite Republican senators, along with John Kennedy from Louisiana. They're direct, they speak without any equivocation. They're very strong on America and the national defense issues," Calabrese said. "They're very, very willing to engage the left on anything that, basically, is threatening our constitutional republic. I like this choice very much, and I think it'll be well received."
Calabrese feels the move to reassign Noem is another step in further improving the Department of Homeland Security's image among the American people.
"I think Trump has already started that when he reassigned, or sent [Gregory] Bovino back down to the Southern border, and now the demotion/replacement of Kristi Noem and, his own words, it was time to have a lighter touch on deportations," Calabrese explained.
"Again, the American people are not against deporting illegals - all illegals, not just ones who commit criminal acts, but ones who came across the border illegally. They didn't like the methods. And even in the Sienna poll that came out the day before yesterday on New York residents, the same thing shows up - a majority of New Yorkers, as liberal as the state is - favors deporting all illegals, but they did not like the ICE approach. They thought it went too far. So returning to the approach was being used in red states, which is red states cooperating with ICE, turning over known criminals to ICE for deportation, was working very well. In Minneapolis, they took a very, very different approach. And the visuals every night of ICE agents with masks in the streets, it just did not sit well with the American people. They still like the goal, they still like the objective, but they didn't like the tactics that were used in Minneapolis. They had no problems with the tactics that are being used in every other state, but those tactics rely on cooperation between local and state officials with ICE. To agree to turn over criminal aliens to ICE. When they do that, the system works very well and the American people are very supportive."
One local matter that a number of elected leaders are still seeking answers with is the circumstances surrounding the death of Burmese refugee Nurul Amin Shah Alam last week.
Shah Alam was detained by Border Patrol agents in Buffalo, only to be dropped off at a closed Tim Hortons along Niagara Street in the city's Riverside neighborhood on Feb. 19. The 56-year-old was then found five days later dead just outside KeyBank Center along Perry Street, miles away from the coffee shop.
When asked about the circumstances surrounding the incident, Noem said she doesn't conduct investigations that are outside of the umbrella of ICE and CBP. She did say, though, the Department of Homeland Security has a review process to make sure all protocols were followed.
Will a new secretary at the Department of Homeland Security lead to any further action, perhaps an investigation that local leaders have called for from federal agents? Calabrese doesn't feel that'll be the case, at least for now.
"I think they're probably going to defer to local authorities and local officials to start any investigation. I think most of the shortcomings of this tragic situation were a result of local protocols, police protocols not being followed. So I would think if any investigation is going to occur, it's going to occur at the local level first," he said. "We'll see where that goes, if it necessitates federal involvement. But right now, I'm just speculating, but I would think the federal government would say, 'Let the locals have at it first, and let them do the investigation. If we think there are major shortcomings, we may need to get involved.'"
The Buffalo Police Department and Erie County Sheriff's Office continue their investigations into Shah Alam's death.
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Western New York officials in Washington released statements regarding the firing of Noem on Thursday:
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:
“The President has fired Kristi Noem—good riddance. But let’s be crystal clear: the problems at DHS go far beyond a personnel change. Under this administration, Americans have seen devastating violence and reckless ICE actions that have shaken communities across the country. The rot runs deep. If the President wants accountability, he must do more than fire one official — he must end the violence and rein in ICE.”
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand:
“It is unconscionable that Kristi Noem was nominated, let alone that she lasted this long. From the moment Kristi Noem was nominated, I made clear she was unfit and unqualified for the job.
“She has been a total and complete failure. Under her failed leadership, DHS has threatened public safety, wasted countless taxpayer dollars, and lied to the American people, and two Americans were tragically murdered. Her actions betrayed the public’s trust and made families across our nation feel less secure.
“Changing leadership without structural reform only means more of the same – an agency without accountability, without discipline, and without regard for the safety of the American people. DHS needs more than just new leadership; it needs fundamental reforms to truly protect public safety and restore public trust.”
Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26):
"I have called for Kristi Noem’s resignation or impeachment for months. And while her firing is welcome news, the severe damage she caused is already done. Long before she was fired by President Trump, Kristi Noem trampled on our constitutional rights and civil liberties, established a culture of cruelty at DHS, and undermined our shared values. Though she is out of her job at DHS, she must still answer for her reckless actions to the American people. She, her successor, and the Trump Administration must be held accountable."
Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23):
“I applaud the President’s announcement that he will appoint Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security. As a member of the Armed Services Committee where he serves on the subcommittees dealing with emerging threats and readiness, he brings a wealth of experience and management expertise that will allow him to seamlessly take the reins of this critical agency. His pending appointment is welcome news and now it’s time for Democrats to stop blocking funding to the department. There is no more important task than protecting Americans’ safety and keeping this agency shuttered during these volatile times is putting our nation at grave risk.”