Noem defends harsh tactics used in arrests and detentions

Noem defended the tactics used by immigration agents to detain individuals, including American citizens.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, said she has concerns about DHS’ immigration enforcement operation. She played a series of videos of interactions between American citizens and federal agents, including when ICE agents detained an elderly man and brought him out of his home in underwear and a blanket, and incidents where agents shattered car windows and dragged individuals from their cars.

Noem responded to Lofgren’s questions about agents’ training, saying “our officers are all trained for situations where they’re interacting with the public and where they’re detaining someone or arresting them.”

“What I would say is they always go with their presence, is when the enforcement action begins, the officer’s presence, and then verbal commands,” Noem said. “If an individual doesn’t respond to verbal commands, then they go to soft techniques, which you see utilized throughout the country. And our officers follow that protocol and are trained in that protocol.”

Noem said officers go through “extensive training” over a period of 56 days.