Noem criticizes TPS use and outlines guidance for nationals with expiring status during Miami visit

Secretary Kristi Noem used a news event at Miami International Airport on Jan. 4 to describe how DHS will handle Temporary Protected Status (TPS) cases that are expiring and to answer reporters' questions about an ongoing investigation.

Noem said, "TPS is a temporary protective status. It's a program that's long existed in law. It has always been meant to be temporary." She added that, in her view, TPS had been "abused" under the Biden administration and said the Trump administration is "restoring that." She advised individuals from countries where TPS is expiring to "reach out to the State Department" and the Department of Homeland Security to explore appeals or other programs and said they have "a number of months" to do so. "The state department gives us the analysis, and the Department of Homeland Security implements the program," she said.

Noem also addressed an inquiry about body-camera footage connected to an investigation, saying, "The FBI is leading the investigation, and as that goes forward, that'll be at their discretion." She described DHS priorities as continuing to remove people she characterized as dangerous criminals and drug traffickers and said the department will work with local law enforcement on removals and prosecutions.

Reporting note: The claims about TPS policy performance and the characterization of prior administrations' actions are assertions made by the secretary in her remarks at this event; the transcript does not include documentary evidence or independent verification presented at the event.

Next steps: Noem encouraged affected individuals to contact the State Department and DHS; no changes to statutory TPS procedures or new regulations were announced at the event.