Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday evening on Fox News that her agency has identified some of the “leakers” responsible for releasing internal information. Earlier this month, Noem suggested that “corrupt” FBI agents were behind a leaked memo about an upcoming “large-scale” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in the Los Angeles area, a memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
Echoing her suspicions a day later, border czar Tom Homan confirmed similar concerns. On Hannity, Noem stated that “some” of the internal leakers had been caught, though she did not specify which agency they belonged to or provide a count. “I have found some leakers. We are continuing to get more. They will be fired. There will be consequences. And, remember, when they leak information to the press in order to blow an op, they are putting law enforcement lives in jeopardy,” Noem said. “They are risking their lives and putting their families in the position where they have to live without those individuals any further.”
“We have used every tactic that we have. If you remember, we talked just last week about how I’m using polygraphs to go after and to really interview these folks because we are a national security agency. I have that tool I can use. Also looking at their emails, looking at their communications,” Noem added.
“It’s amazing how these bureaucrats who have an agenda to stop the work that we’re doing to bring safety to America, how they will sell each other down the river if it’s just to protect themselves. So don’t worry. I am doing everything to find these leakers and to get rid of them so that we can do our work and our law enforcement officers and agents can do it safely,” she added.
Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, he has reversed several Biden-Harris immigration policies, empowering ICE agents to arrest “criminal aliens” including rapists and murderers. However, protests in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles have called for an end to the mass deportations.
Although ICE has already conducted raids nationwide, the Los Angeles Times ran a story Feb. 7 stating the outlet had obtained an internal memo detailing plans for a “large-scale” raid in the Los Angeles area before the end of the month. Later, host Sean Hannity asked Noem if leaking such information was “a crime,” noting that releasing these details could endanger agents’ lives.
“Absolutely. When they are breaking the law, we are prosecuting and holding them accountable to it,” Noem said. “So, you know, we’re not here to play games. This is about America. Any law enforcement officer that serves and partners not only with the Department of Homeland Security, but partners with us, listen, we respect you.”
“We honor the work that you do. We will take care of your family. We will take care of you. And we’ll go after those that threaten your lives by leaking this type of information,” Noem said. After the leaks, both Homan and Noem stated they would identify those responsible for releasing the information. Noem also warned employees that polygraph tests would be administered, according to Bloomberg.