Nogales, Arizona – U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem concluded a two-day visit to the nation’s borders on , focusing on security measures at both the southern and northern borders. The visit, which began with a focus on the Arizona-Mexico border near Nogales, was framed by the Secretary as a demonstration of continued success in border security efforts.
Secretary Noem rallied hundreds of federal personnel at the Arizona/Mexico border, including officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Coast Guard. She was joined on stage by acting ICE director Todd Lyons, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, and President for the National Border Patrol Council Paul Perez. The event served as a platform to highlight what officials described as improved conditions along the border.
During the press conference, Noem presented awards to three Border Patrol agents, recognizing their actions while on duty. Their families were present, alongside over 200 members of CBP, ICE, and other government agencies. The Secretary and other speakers also acknowledged the support of President Donald Trump for immigration enforcement and thanked officials for their work.
“We’ve got a promise of a bright future, and a promise of an amazing country for years to come,” Noem stated, according to reports. “You have stood up and stood on the line.” She further asserted that the border is now the most secure it has ever been, attributing this to a focus on “law, and order.”
The visit comes amid ongoing debate over border security and immigration policy. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks shared plans to utilize funds from what was referred to as the “One, Big, Beautiful, Bill” to strengthen the border wall and allocate additional resources to Border Patrol. Banks stated, “We are going to use that Big Beautiful Bill to continue building this wall. This wall is going to come with all the technology that it requires.”
While federal officials lauded the progress made, local perspectives offered a more nuanced view. Nogales Mayor Jorge Maldonado, while supporting a strong border, noted that Nogales has historically maintained a secure environment regardless of the presidential administration. “At no point was Nogales flooded with migrants,” he said. However, Maldonado expressed concern over a recent increase in ICE activity, specifically the questioning of visa holders at the border, which he believes is discouraging legal border crossings and impacting the city’s economy. “Right now, there is fear, and this fear is costing our city economic revenue because they’re not coming to Nogales, Arizona, to purchase their milk,” he explained.
The Secretary’s visit also prompted protests from some residents of the Nogales area, who viewed the event as a “publicity stunt” and raised concerns about the impact of ICE activity on local communities and wildlife. One protester, Lisa Redpath, stated, “It’s a publicity stunt. In the meantime, wildlife is being decimated, communities are being decimated, and families are being decimated.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s focus on the Arizona-Mexico border follows the recent purchase of a $70 million warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, which is slated to be converted into a detention facility. This move has also drawn local protests and scrutiny. Secretary Noem’s visit to Arizona began on , with her arrival at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
On , it was announced that Secretary Noem also visited the northern border in North Dakota, continuing to emphasize the administration’s commitment to border security across the country. This dual-border visit underscores the administration’s strategy of addressing border security as a national issue, rather than one confined to the southern border alone.
The Secretary’s statements regarding improved life along the border were made while defending the current border crackdown policies. She recalled a time when schools in border communities needed to erect barriers to protect children, suggesting that the current situation represents a significant improvement. “Many of the schools and many of these communities had to put up barriers and protection on boulders and rocks just between the roads and their schools to keep their children safe,” Noem asserted.
