Kristi Noem Is Trump's DHS Pick

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican who earlier served for eight years in the U.S. House, will be President Donald Trump's pick for homeland security secretary, multiple news outlets reported.

Noem has been more prominent as an immigration restrictionist since becoming governor -- she was the first governor to send National Guard troops to the Mexico border -- but she also has some history as a China hawk. South Dakota banned TikTok, and Noem has urged Congress to prevent Chinese purchases of farmland.

While Noem was in the House, she led several efforts to protect local business interests, whether through fighting for sales taxes on all online purchases, or by trying to slow or stop an antidumping and countervailing duty case on newsprint from Canada (see 1806110010).

Although Noem would lead the agency in charge of immigration, she may not be the most prominent decision-maker in the arena. Trump has selected former ICE Director Tom Homan as "border czar," in charge of implementing his campaign promise to begin mass deportations. Stephen Miller, one of the authors of family separation in the first administration, has been tapped as deputy chief of staff.