Columbia Standard

Ahead of the confirmation vote for Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin expressed his concerns on the Senate floor and voted against her nomination.

Durbin highlighted apprehensions about the new era under President Trump, referring to it as "the new Trump 47 era," where "mass deportation" is a key focus. He stated, “We don’t know for sure how it will be implemented, but I’m very concerned.” He emphasized that Noem's potential leadership comes at a significant time in history.

The Senator pointed out that Governor Noem has advocated for ending birthright citizenship and described the southern border as a "war zone." He noted her actions during her tenure as South Dakota's governor, including deploying the National Guard to the southern border eight times. Durbin expressed disappointment over Noem's refusal to meet with him to discuss these decisions.

Durbin underscored the vital role immigrants play in various sectors across America. He remarked on their contributions, stating that immigrants make up significant portions of agriculture workers and home health aides. He warned that reducing this workforce could increase costs in areas like childcare due to fewer available workers.

Concluding his remarks, Durbin outlined three principles he believes should guide immigration policy: maintaining an orderly process at the border, ensuring no dangerous individuals are allowed into or remain in the country, and recognizing that not everyone can be accepted into America immediately. He stressed that any solution must provide stability for those already living in fear and offer a real fix to protect American workers while treating immigrants fairly.

Video footage and audio of Durbin’s speech are available for public viewing.