Kristi Noem Says Americans Should Be Prepared to Prove Their Citizenship as ICE Ramps Up Raids [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: People

Kristi Noem Says Americans Should Be Prepared to Prove Their Citizenship as ICE Ramps Up Raids

The homeland security secretary told reporters that validating the identity of some people who ICE agents encounter is "something we've always done"

By Kyler Alvord
Published on January 16, 2026 12:13PM EST

• Kristi Noem was asked about reports that federal immigration agents have asked people for proof of citizenship
• Speaking to reporters on Jan. 15, she replied that ICE agents seek to do "targeted enforcement," but that they also need to validate the identities of people "in those surroundings"
• ICE enforcement has come under renewed scrutiny in 2026 after a series of violent encounters with locals, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan. 7

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is defending reports that people have been asked by federal agents to prove their citizenship status as Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations continue in cities across America.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Thursday, Jan. 15, Noem was asked why ICE and border agents have seemingly questioned people about their citizenship, and whether she expects Americans to be carrying around proof in case they are stopped.

“In every situation, we are doing targeted enforcement," the former North Dakota governor, 54, claimed in response. "If we are on a target and doing an operation, there may be individuals surrounding that criminal that we may be asking who they are and why they’re there and having them validate their identity.”

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Read more: https://people.com/kristi-noem-americans-should-be-prepared-prove-citizenship-11886914