The National Association of Police Organizations is endorsing Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security, the Daily Caller learned first.
In a letter addressed to Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the NAPO called the U.S. Senate to come together and quickly confirm Noem, writing that the South Dakota governor would “restore justice in our nation.”
The NAPO represents at least 1,000 police units and associations and has sworn in 241,000 law enforcement officers. (RELATED: Trump May Have Just Stopped Massive Caravan From Approaching US Border)
“There are many reasons why NAPO endorsed President Trump in the last election but foremost is the state of law and order in our great nation. America faces a criminal justice crisis, criminal aliens, and gangs like Tren de Aragua have entered our country illegally and have committed terrible crimes against our citizens,” the letter, obtained by the Daily Caller, reads.
“NAPO supports President Trump’s nomination of Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security. Governor Noem has a proven record of supporting the men and women of law enforcement and making the rule of law a priority,” the letter continues.
Governor’s of North and South Dakota, Doug Bergum and Kristi Noem, speak in Morgantown, PA as surrogates for Donald Trump during an 2024 presidential campaign event for Trump’s “Agenda 47″policy tour. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Photo by DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
The NAPO’s endorsement of Noem follows another major backing from the National Fraternal Order of Police.
A person familiar with the NAPO’s decision to endorse Noem told the Caller that this is the latest of a series of major law enforcement groups that support her nomination.
North Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 15, 2024. Donald Trump won formal nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and picked a right-wing loyalist for running mate, kicking off a triumphalist party convention in the wake of last weekend’s failed assassination attempt. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
If confirmed as DHS secretary, Noem will be in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other agencies that are tasked with handling the United States’ border. Trump has made border security a key cornerstone of his campaign, promising a massive deportation program and to crackdown on illegal immigration.
When Noem was in Congress, she backed then-President Trump’s travel ban on refugees from countries with a history of terrorism. She promised that as governor of South Dakota she would not be allowing refugees let into the country under the Biden-Harris administration into her state. Noem also told Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that her state could send over razor wire to help his state secure the southern border. (RELATED: Migrant Caught Cutting Border Wire To Lead Dozens Over Before Being Stopped By National Guard, Video Shows)
Alongside Noem, Trump has tapped several key officials to help tackle the border crisis. Former ICE acting Director Tom Homan will serve as “border czar” and Stephen Miller will be the president-elect’s deputy chief of staff for policy. On Thursday, Trump tapped Caleb Vitello to lead ICE and Rodney Scott to lead CBP.
