WASHINGTON — Lawmakers pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and intelligence and law enforcement officials on Tuesday over immigration enforcement, vetting of people admitted to the United States and Department management, while witnesses described evolving terrorism, cyber and drug threats.

The hearing, convened by House Homeland Security Chairman Garberino, was billed as an annual review of worldwide threats. Secretary Noem, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent and FBI Operations Director Michael Glasheen testified about border security, organized criminal networks, cyber intrusions and preparations for major mass gatherings, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"We will never yield. We will never waver, and we will never back down," Noem said, urging continued resource and interagency coordination to protect large public events and critical infrastructure.

Kent stressed the terrorism risk tied to migration and online radicalization, telling the committee: "So far, NCTC has identified around 18,000 known and suspected terrorists that the Biden administration let come into our country." He said the figure reflects screening and watch-list work and that NCTC is working with DHS and the FBI to locate and mitigate threats.

Members from both parties used the hearing to press Noem on separate issues. Democratic members and some Republicans accused DHS of withholding documents, improperly reinstating personnel and diverting funds to contracts they characterized as political. Ranking Member Thompson said repeated failures to respond to oversight requests warranted stronger measures and at one point called on the secretary to resign.

Noem repeatedly defended DHS operations and litigation posture, saying the department complies with federal court orders and that enforcement actions focus on individuals who pose criminal threats. She told lawmakers that grant formulas are intended to match resources to where threats are greatest and noted some jurisdictions retained unspent reserves.

Questions about asylum, whether individuals with pending applications were removed, and whether U.S. citizens had been detained under immigration operations drew detailed exchanges. Noem denied that DHS had detained or deported American citizens and said case reviews and appeals are ongoing.

The hearing also included witness descriptions of new counter-unmanned aircraft system (counter-UAS) training at a federal facility in Huntsville, Ala., and discussion of cyber threats to undersea communications cabling and critical infrastructure. The FBI described task-force work addressing child exploitation, human trafficking and radicalization that occurs online.

At the close of the hearing, Ranking Member Thompson moved to subpoena Secretary Noem to return and continue testimony after she left before the scheduled end; that motion was debated and then a separate motion to table the subpoena was adopted on a recorded vote, 13–12. The committee held the record open for 10 days for members to submit additional questions.

What happens next: The committee invited written follow-up from witnesses and members retained the option to pursue further oversight, including subpoenas if majority support emerges. The hearing transcript shows sustained partisan disagreement over enforcement priorities even as intelligence and law enforcement witnesses described continued threats from international terrorist groups, domestic radicalization and transnational criminal organizations.