Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ignited a firestorm Thursday with a blunt two-word message—”Suck it”—posted on her official DHS social media account.
The remark followed the voluntary dismissal of a high-profile lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenging the planned transfer of detained illegal immigrants to Guantánamo Bay.
The lawsuit, which named Homeland Security officials as defendants, was dropped after several plaintiffs were deported and others declined to proceed with the case.
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The ACLU had initially argued that the Trump administration lacked the legal authority to send migrants to the U.S. military prison in Cuba, asserting such actions would violate federal law and the Constitution.
The social media post, which included an image of the court filing confirming the dismissal, drew immediate and widespread reaction online, largely splitting opinion along political lines.
Supporters praised Noem’s directness, with some hailing the response as “the best ever.”
Conversely, critics questioned the professionalism and tone of a Cabinet secretary using such language on an official government platform. “Coming from the Secretary of the Homeland, what are you getting at?” one user posted, highlighting the official nature of the account used.
Among the plaintiffs in the now-dismissed ACLU complaint were two Venezuelan nationals who had been separated from their 2-year-old daughter. DHS later stated the child was placed in foster care for her protection, alleging the parents were affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan drug cartel. The child has since been returned to Caracas.
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The incident adds to ongoing scrutiny of Noem’s leadership style and public persona since assuming the role of Homeland Security Secretary under President Donald Trump. Critics have accused her of prioritizing media appearances and photo opportunities over substantive policy execution, citing past incidents such as a social media post during a live immigration raid and heavily publicized visits to detention centers and international prisons.
Despite these criticisms, the Trump administration has maintained that its immigration policies under Noem’s leadership have been effective. According to administration reports, illegal border crossings are at their lowest level in decades, and more than 4,000 Venezuelan nationals have been deported since February, including some apprehended in Mexico who intended to cross into the United States.
President Trump has also announced intentions to utilize Guantánamo Bay as a detention site for what he termed “the worst criminal aliens” and others who are difficult to deport. Administration officials have indicated the Cuban facility could hold up to 30,000 illegal immigrants under this new policy.
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“President Donald Trump has been very clear: Guantanamo Bay will hold the worst of the worst. That starts today,” Noem had stated in an earlier comment referencing the Venezuelan detainees who were part of the ACLU’s initial concerns.
Earlier this week, Secretary Noem and the administration relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office.
The office, originally established during Trump’s first term in 2017, had been dismantled by the Biden-Harris administration, which replaced it with a broader victim support system that also included migrants held in U.S. custody.
At the relaunch event Wednesday at ICE headquarters, Noem appeared alongside “angel families”—those who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants—affirming that DHS is once again prioritizing their specific needs.
In addition to policy initiatives, Noem has reportedly implemented internal changes within DHS, including polygraph testing for employees and encouraging voluntary staff departures aimed at addressing internal leaks.
While some within the department reportedly view her more as a political figurehead than a policy driver, Noem’s defenders point to measurable successes in enforcement as proof of her effectiveness. The latest controversy surrounding her social media remark underscores Noem’s high-profile and often polarizing role in the administration’s aggressive stance on immigration and border security.
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