The Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association has joined a growing chorus of public safety organizations calling for the U.S. Senate to quickly confirm South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
In a letter to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, Michael Haynes, president of the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association, said the Republican governor “is the best leader to restore the rule of law and protect our homeland.” He called on senators to “confirm Governor Noem as soon as possible.”
“Open Borders, failure to enforce our immigration laws and Sanctuary Cities have contributed to an epidemic of crime in our communities,” Haynes wrote. “Foreign criminal gangs are rampant across many cities and states.
“Criminal aliens have entered our country and committed crimes and murder against our citizens,” Haynes added. “Too many limited resources are being spent on people in our country illegally. Our nation is facing a security crisis.”
Paul is the incoming chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security. Last month, Trump nominated Noem, a one-time possibility for vice president, citing her strong track record.
“Kristi has been very strong on Border Security,” CNN quoted Trump as saying in a statement. “She will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the Border, and will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries.”
Noem, a former South Dakota representative, met with Paul on Tuesday “to discuss how I will work as Secretary of Homeland Security to make America SAFE again,” she said in a post to X. “And we will work together to make our nation safe and secure in the years to come.”
The Police Officers Association of Michigan, the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), the International Union of Police Associations, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Broward Deputy Sheriffs Association in southern Florida are among the groups that have publicly endorsed Noem.
“There are many reasons why NAPO endorsed President Trump in the last election but foremost is the state of law and order in our great nation,” William J. Johnson, executive director of NAPO, wrote in a letter to Paul. “America faces a criminal justice crisis, criminal aliens, and gangs like Tren de Aragua have entered our country illegally and have committed terrible crimes against our citizens.
“NAPO supports President Trump’s nomination of Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security,” Johnson added. “Governor Noem has a proven record of supporting the men and women of law enforcement and making the rule of law a priority.”
In a letter to Trump, Patrick Yoes, national president of the FOP, promised the organization would work with Noem “to secure our border, stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States, as well as support all the critical missions of the DHS—which has more law enforcement officers than any other Federal Department—in defending our homeland and keeping the American public safe.”
Ohio has been the backdrop of the national discussion about illegal immigration. Trump highlighted the influx of Haitians to Springfield during the campaign, and in September, Gov. Mike DeWine announced $2.5 million in tax dollars for expanding primary care access in the city.
“The influx of Haitians to Springfield and Clark County has significantly impacted local primary care providers due to the increased number of patients and the need for more translation services,” DeWine’s office said in a September news release. “In general, migrants from Haiti have had little to no healthcare services prior to arriving in the United States, including vaccinations.”
The Ohio Department of Health opened a mobile health clinic in late September to help with back-to-school vaccinations. Last week, DeWine visited Springfield to announce a new Clark County traffic safety initiative to “train members of the local migrant community on safe driving skills.”
