Administration launches "Shield of America" initiative; Noem named special envoy
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Summary
At a luncheon to launch a new Western Hemisphere security initiative, Secretary Rubio introduced the program and said the president had appointed Secretary Noem as special envoy. Noem outlined objectives including combating cartels, tightening migration controls and expanding cyber and economic cooperation.
Secretary Rubio opened a luncheon convened to launch a new Western Hemisphere security initiative and said the president appointed Secretary Noem as a special envoy to lead the effort. "He has appointed secretary Noem as the special envoy dedicated to this relationship," Rubio said, then turned the program over to her.
Secretary Noem said the initiative — which she called the "shield of America" — will pair security work with economic cooperation and involve regular, ongoing engagement rather than one-off meetings. "This is intended to be a group, that works together to make sure that we're each defending our own sovereignty," Noem said.
Noem described a range of priorities she said the effort will pursue, including dismantling cartel organizations, strengthening migration controls and keeping outside adversaries from expanding influence in the hemisphere. "Our objectives are going to be to destroy the cartels, to go after these narcoterrorists that are destroying our people," she said.
Speaking about border enforcement, Noem summarized recent changes in U.S. policy and said, "over 3,000,000 people have been deported or removed from our country in the last year." The number was presented by Noem as part of her account of increased enforcement; the administration did not provide independent verification of that figure during the luncheon.
Noem also highlighted work on cybersecurity and bilateral cooperation, saying Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity teams have embedded experts with partners where needed. She cited past engagements with leaders in El Salvador, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador as examples of partners the initiative will work with on security and economic issues.
After her remarks Noem said she would provide attendees with her personal cell phone numbers after the press left, to keep direct lines of communication open. Rubio closed by thanking attendees for joining what he described as a "historic gathering of allies and friends."
No formal votes or legislative actions were recorded during the luncheon; the principal development was the president's appointment of Noem as special envoy and her outline of the initiative's goals.