Washington: President Donald Trump on Thursday fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, a close ally whose tenure was marked by controversy over immigration enforcement and disaster response.

Trump announced that he will nominate Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the department.

Noem's departure comes after a turbulent week in Congress, where she faced intense questioning from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers about her leadership, including a $220 million ad campaign encouraging undocumented immigrants to leave the US voluntarily.

Trump praised Noem's record, saying she "has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!)." He added that she would be appointed as "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas," a new initiative aimed at security in the Western Hemisphere.

Noem, who appeared at a law enforcement event in Nashville, Tennessee, shortly after Trump's announcement, did not comment on her ouster, instead reading from prepared remarks. On social media later, she thanked Trump for the new role and highlighted her accomplishments at DHS, writing, "We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again."

Congressional criticism and controversies

Noem faced increasing scrutiny for her handling of immigration enforcement, particularly following the shooting deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. In the aftermath, she portrayed the victims as aggressors, contradicting widely viewed videos and eyewitness accounts, and refused to apologise during two days of Congressional testimony.

Lawmakers also questioned her department's spending practices, including billions allocated by Congress, and criticised the slow distribution of emergency funding through FEMA. Noem's handling of the DHS shutdown, which left employees working without pay for 20 days, further drew bipartisan concern.

Trump's announcement followed speculation that Noem's leadership had become a liability for the administration. Some Senate Republicans privately suggested her departure could encourage Democrats to support funding the department, though Democrats dismissed the move as a political manoeuvre rather than genuine accountability.

Support and criticism

Reactions to Noem's exit were sharply divided. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey tweeted "good riddance," a sentiment echoed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. Immigration advocates, however, warned that her departure might not alter the administration's enforcement policies.

"This is not accountability, just a reshuffling of the enablers of the agenda of President Trump," said Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America's Voice. She described Noem's tenure as "marked by cruelty."

Among her supporters, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino called her "the best Secretary I ever worked for, period. The others weren't even close. Noem is the ultimate patriot."