Cartels, Terror Groups Targeting ICE Agents as Democrats Give Them ‘Air Cover’: Noem [WATCH]

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that Democratic politicians who downplay violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are giving criminals “air cover,” speaking during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

Addressing recent federal operations she said she observed alongside ICE officers, Noem argued that local leaders have failed to support enforcement efforts in major cities and pointed to Chicago as an example.

She described officers making arrests while residents looked on and applauded, and she criticized the city’s leadership and public safety record.

“Let’s remember that the mayor has a less than 6% approval rating in Chicago. So the people who live there, less than 6% think he might be doing somewhat of a good job. Overwhelmingly, that man is a failure. He’s a failure for his people and hasn’t stood up for the victims of the crimes that have happened in his city. So we’re going to keep doing our work, every day when we’re there, doing our operations, when I’m there with them. People on the streets are clapping as we do our work. They’re clapping as these officers are arresting these bad criminals. And out of the 12 that we arrested during the short period of time I was there, six of them had criminal records in their backgrounds that the state had arrested them and just turned them loose on the street again for assault, for weapons, possession, for robbery. Those individuals now are off the streets thanks to President Trump, not thanks to that mayor who was delusional at best.”

Noem tied the enforcement push to the administration’s public safety agenda and credited President Donald Trump for directing federal resources to target repeat offenders.

She said the officers’ actions removed suspects with prior records from city streets and faulted local authorities for releasing offenders after earlier arrests by state agencies.

She also accused Democratic officials of minimizing violence against federal personnel and said that public comments from elected leaders create conditions that embolden offenders.

“He’s giving them air cover. He’s giving them air cover so they can go out and keep committing crimes. It’s wrong. There should be consequences for that. And for leaders that stand up and knowingly lie about the situation on the ground. This is a war zone. His city is a war zone, and he’s lying so that criminals can go in there and destroy people’s lives.”

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During the segment, Noem said she would continue to join federal teams in the field and emphasized cooperation among federal and local agencies when carrying out arrests.

She described the 12 arrests she referenced as occurring within a short time span while she was present and said half of those arrested had prior criminal records involving assault, weapons possession, or robbery.

She did not provide specific case information during the interview, and Fox & Friends Weekend did not display arrest records on screen while she was speaking.

Noem’s remarks followed a stretch of public debate over federal-local coordination on enforcement, prosecutions, and pretrial release policies in large metropolitan areas.

She argued that public backing for ICE remains strong at the neighborhood level and said the reception officers received on the street demonstrates support for federal activity when it targets offenders with prior arrests.

The interview also touched on the role of elected officials in shaping public safety messaging.

Noem said statements that minimize threats to law enforcement are harmful and called for consequences for leaders who “knowingly lie about the situation on the ground.”

She said she would continue to participate in operations and that the department’s work would proceed regardless of criticism.

Fox & Friends Weekend hosts framed the discussion around violence directed at ICE and the broader question of how local and federal authorities coordinate enforcement.

Noem’s comments reflected the department’s emphasis on arresting individuals with prior criminal histories and prioritizing cases involving violent offenses and weapons violations.

Noem did not identify the individuals arrested or specify the dates and locations within Chicago where the arrests occurred.

She said the arrests took place during a brief period when she accompanied officers and repeated that she viewed community reaction firsthand.

She said city leadership has not supported victims or backed officers as they work through operations.

The Department of Homeland Security did not issue additional details during the broadcast segment.

Noem said federal teams will continue to conduct operations in major cities and that she expects further results from ongoing efforts.

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