Kristi Noem, the Republican governor of South Dakota and nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, declared during her Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday that, if confirmed, she would immediately shut down the CBP One app, which has been the designated method for asylum seekers to enter the U.S. along the southern border.
The app, CBP One, has been implemented under President Joe Biden’s administration as the sole platform through which migrants can request asylum. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned Noem about the app during the hearing, highlighting its central role in the current asylum process.
“Noem responded firmly, stating, “Senator, if confirmed and I have the opportunity to be secretary, on day one, CBP One will be shut down.” She further explained that her team would preserve the data within the app to ensure the government could track who is entering the U.S. and who remains in the country.
As a rancher, former member of Congress, and staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, Noem has frequently referred to migration across the U.S. southern border as an “invasion.” If confirmed, she would oversee the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and would be instrumental in executing the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies.
Noem’s position underscores her commitment to immigration enforcement, aiming to significantly reshape how the U.S. handles border security and asylum procedures. Her confirmation would make her one of the most influential figures in the ongoing national debate over immigration.
