Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem Calls L.A. ‘City Of Criminals,’ Warns Protesters: ‘We’re Going To Hit ‘Em Back Harder’

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has responded to the Los Angeles protests with a warning: “We’re coming in and doing what the president has said that he’s going to do… we’re going to hit ’em back, and we’re going to hit ’em back harder than we ever have before.”

By Monday, President Donald Trump had deployed 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to combat protesters in LA. The protests started on June 6 in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting mass arrests against migrants. Over the weekend, agents launched tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper balls against protesters.

Noem has criticized California officials’ response to the protests. She slammed LA Mayor Karen Bass following the mayor’s criticism of Trump’s deployment of military forces in California. Noem said the city is “filled with criminals.”

Noem has been supportive of the president’s decision to deploy military officials. She implied that she does not intend to allow LA to become a center of protests similar to those of Minneapolis in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.

While Noem is praising Trump’s decision to deploy forces in LA, she was critical when former President Joe Biden and Democrats said they were considering utilizing the National Guard in Texas in February 2024.

At that time, the governor was pushing an extensive anti-immigration agenda in the state, and the former president and fellow Democrats were considering intervening. Noem said that it would be an imposition on states’ rights and would lead to a “war” between the White House and Republican-controlled state governments.