The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, was the victim of a robbery while dining with her family at a restaurant in Washington DC on Sunday night.
The thief took her handbag, which contained $3,000 in cash, her passport, driver's license, access credentials for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a checkbook, and personal medications, reported the network CNN.
According to a DHS spokesperson, Noem was carrying that amount of money because "all of her family was in town, including her children and grandchildren", and she planned to cover expenses related to dinners, activities, and Easter gifts.
The Secret Service is reviewing the security footage from the location to identify the suspect, described as a white man wearing a medical mask. So far, no arrests have been made.
This incident occurs while Noem leads the immigration policies of Donald Trump's administration. Recently, she visited a prison in El Salvador where Venezuelans deported from the United States are being held and has consistently called on migrants to self-deport.
Since taking office, Noem has pushed for hardline immigration policies, in line with the rhetoric and priorities of the president. She has been particularly critical of the humanitarian parole program established by the Biden administration, which she accused of “fueling migratory chaos” and jeopardizing national security by allowing the entry of over 530,000 "poorly vetted" foreigners.
In a recent official statement, the DHS under its direction announced that it would utilize all available legal avenues to suspend said program and restore what it considers the “migration order.”
Noem's stance has been supported by executive measures signed by Trump, such as Executive Order 14165, which mandates the end of categorical parole programs and aims to strengthen border control.
The former governor of South Dakota has been a controversial figure in the current administration. Her recent autobiography sparked controversy by revealing that she sacrificed one of her dogs, deeming it uncontrollable.
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