NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
Homeland Security Chief Calls Out Media Over Who They’re Really Defending
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a pointed message to the press on Friday, accusing legacy media outlets of misleading the American public about the true risks posed by illegal immigration.
Speaking from Washington during a Department of Homeland Security press conference, Noem pulled no punches as she highlighted recent cases involving undocumented individuals accused of violent crimes — and questioned why major media platforms continue to frame such stories as sympathetic profiles while ignoring the victims.
“The American people deserve the truth,” Noem stated. “And they’re not getting it from the corporate press.”
Noem cited multiple arrests involving foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally, detailing a string of high-profile crimes that, in her words, “should have dominated headlines — but didn’t.”
A Brutal Pattern Emerging
Among the cases highlighted by Noem:
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Two Venezuelan nationals recently arrested for promoting prostitution and resisting arrest.
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A Venezuelan man charged with stabbing his wife to death, a homicide that occurred earlier this month.
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A Salvadoran national with confirmed ties to MS-13, wanted in El Salvador for aggravated murder, now in U.S. custody.
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A 22-year-old Guatemalan man charged with child rape, exploitation of a minor, and identity theft.
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A 60-year-old Iraqi national with a criminal history that includes rape, larceny, and false imprisonment.
Noem emphasized that each of these individuals had entered or remained in the country illegally — and that every one of their victims now represents a failure of the system.
“These are not isolated mistakes. These are the direct results of policies that shield criminals and a media that shields the truth,” she said.
The Media’s Role
Secretary Noem didn’t stop at calling out policies — she directly challenged media networks by name, accusing them of intentionally shaping sympathetic narratives around individuals whose records raise serious safety concerns.
Noem pointed to a recent CNN feature about Elsy Noemi Berrios, a Salvadoran woman reportedly facing deportation. The article focused on Berrios’ role as a single mother and emphasized her lack of U.S. criminal history, while criticizing DHS for offering limited public justification for her removal.
However, according to Homeland Security Investigations, Berrios is under scrutiny for her alleged affiliation with MS-13, a detail CNN reportedly failed to include in the early drafts of its coverage.
Another CNN profile centered on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man deported from Maryland. The outlet framed Garcia’s case as a bureaucratic injustice and emphasized the “mistaken identity” angle — despite DHS raising separate security flags.
MSNBC Under Fire
Noem also took direct aim at MSNBC, citing an appearance by Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski in which Garcia’s case was discussed. The panel reportedly focused on his “normal clothing,” lack of a formal criminal conviction, and procedural issues — rather than the substance of DHS’s investigation.
Even more inflammatory, an MSNBC legal contributor published an article originally titled “Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance,” referring to a Georgia college student who was allegedly murdered by an undocumented immigrant. The headline was later changed, but critics argue it exposed an alarming editorial stance.
“The victims are being erased from these stories,” Noem said. “Their names are whispered while their killers are celebrated as victims of bureaucracy.”
The Bigger Picture
Noem’s remarks arrive at a time when immigration continues to rank among the most divisive political issues in America. With the 2026 midterms already heating up, issues like sanctuary policies, border security, and immigration enforcement are expected to dominate political messaging — and this press briefing may be a preview of what’s to come.
Critics of the Biden administration’s immigration approach say the case examples cited by Noem are not outliers but symptoms of a larger failure to vet, monitor, and remove individuals who pose public safety risks.
Supporters of immigration reform, on the other hand, argue that Noem’s framing is alarmist and that individual cases should not dictate national policy.
Still, the public concern is mounting, and Noem’s direct approach — including naming names and challenging mainstream networks — is likely to strike a chord with voters who feel alienated by sanitized headlines and soft coverage.
Accountability or Agenda?
The press conference is just the latest sign that Homeland Security under Noem’s leadership is taking a more aggressive stance — not only on immigration enforcement but also on the media’s portrayal of enforcement actions.
By placing pressure directly on the shoulders of networks like CNN and MSNBC, Noem is challenging both journalism and government to answer the same question:
Who are we protecting — the public, or the politically convenient?
As of now, the media outlets named in the briefing have not responded directly to Noem’s accusations.
But the message is clear: if the government won’t hold the media accountable, she intends to.
