Trump said Noem will move to a new role as special envoy for the “Shield of the Americas,” a Western Hemisphere security initiative the administration plans to unveil in the coming days. Noem has been one of the administration’s most visible — and polarizing — voices on immigration. Her tenure drew intense criticism from Democrats and some Republicans over her rhetoric, high-profile enforcement tactics, and the department’s response to fatal shootings involving two US citizens during federal immigration operations in Minneapolis earlier this year. Her departure follows weeks of mounting political pressure and congressional scrutiny, raising broader questions in Washington about whether the White House will double down on mass deportations or pivot toward a more targeted enforcement strategy.