DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visits U.S.-Mexico border during Arizona trip

NOGALES, Ariz. - Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited a portion of the U.S. - Mexico border during her visit to Arizona on Feb. 4.

Big picture view:

Noem arrived in Arizona on Feb. 3 where she landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. On Wednesday, she was joined by high-ranking Homeland Security officials during a news conference, where she announced updates on the construction of the border wall.

For Noem, the trip to Arizona comes as the Trump administration tries to change the narrative on immigration enforcement.

What She Said:

While the event was billed as a major border wall announcement, it instead was a defense of a border crackdown during this administration.

"For every day that God will continue to bless, you bless the work that you sent your hands to and your families. They’ll continue to bless this great country and keep his hand upon it and his presence throughout it so that we would know that we are all Americans," Noem said.

At the border wall, Noem also presented awards to families of Border Patrol officers, and then said life along the border has improved.

"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.

Local perspective:

In recent days, reports surfaced that DHS purchased a warehouse in Surprise in a $70 million cash deal. On Feb. 3, Noem said it will likely be a detention facility. She didn't take any questions at the border event on Wednesday.

Opponents of the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration fear Arizona is next for an uptick in enforcement, and some Democratic congressional members from Arizona have called for Noem's impeachment, as funding for DHS takes center stage in Capitol negotiations.

The administration has also faced protests following a recent immigration raid at several Zipps Sports Grill locations across the Valley. Some of the undocumented immigrants arrested in those raids claim they have no prior criminal records.

ICE continues to say they don’t confirm what their operational plans are, but the secretary’s visit will do nothing to quell the rumors that a crackdown in Arizona is coming.

"That would probably be a detention facility then," Noem said of the purchase. "I’m not sure if that’s under contract yet or not. You know, President Trump made a promise to the American people to make our country safe again, that we’d enforce our laws, and people that are here in our country that are perpetuating crimes against American people would be brought to justice and be sent home."