Noem grilled on DHS rhetoric, jet use, and polling-place plans

In a lengthy Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced tough questions from Democrats and some Republicans over her early descriptions of two Minneapolis deaths, the department’s use of administrative warrants, travel on a private jet, and the possibility of deploying immigration officers to polling places. Noem defended her on-the-ground descriptions, declined to apologize to the families, and did not retract her statements. Republicans pressed her on DHS ad spending and related contracts, while she maintained there are no plans to place ICE at polling sites (though she wouldn’t entirely rule it out). She said the jet is being refurbished and could save taxpayers money, and DHS signaled migrants would be re-vetted in response to recent Iran-related events but offered few threat specifics.