President Donald Trump fired the Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday and announced plans to replace her with Senator Mark Wayne Mullin from Oklahoma. This comes after Noem was questioned by Republican lawmakers at congressional hearings. Trump announced the change on social media, along with a previously nonexistent role he created for Noem: special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, which he said would be a new security initiative for the Western Hemisphere.

Under Noem’s leadership, the country had endured a seeming everpresent tension between federal agents and both American citizens and immigrants alike.

“Under Noem’s tenure, deaths in immigration detention doubled in 2025. Thirty-two people died in ICE custody last year, and another eight deaths have been recorded since January,” reported the New York Times.

The final strike for Noem, it seems, was her inability to answer questions during congressional hearings last week, as even Republican lawmakers chimed in and questioned her leadership, and Noem was removed only a couple of days later.

The president is already very keen on a replacement for Noem.

“A MAGA Warrior and former undefeated professional MMA fighter, Markwayne truly gets along well with people, and knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda,” Trump posted.”Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Whether or not changes to the immigration policy will ensue is very unclear. In short, Americans await approval of the new head of the DHS, while the country still engages in much national and international turmoil.