By Michael Donoghue, Vermont News First
NEWPORT – New Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem apparently was shocked to learn U.S. Border Patrol Agents along the Vermont-Canadian border have been missing basic equipment for immigration enforcement efforts – winter snow tires.
Noem made an anticipated, but unannounced visit to the Northeast Kingdom on Thursday afternoon to meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel that are still mourning the tragic loss of one of their own. U.S. Border Patrol Agent David “Chris” Maland, 44, of Newport was gunned down without warning as he made a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Coventry on Jan. 20. A woman is in federal custody and her companion was killed in the shootout with the Border Patrol.
“It was 4 degrees & snowing during my recent trip to the US-Canada border. I was shocked to hear that some of our border patrol agents don’t even have snow tires – due to the failures of the Biden Administration,” Noem later posted on social media.
“It’s a no brainer to make sure our law enforcement has vehicles with basic equipment for winter conditions,” said Noem, who shared pictures of her private meetings with federal agents in Vermont.
“Under President Trump, our border patrol agents will have snow tires & ALL the resources they need to do their jobs,” Noem pledged.
Illegal immigrants often head to the most rural geographic locations in northern United States to try to cross the international boundary. Many are intercepted on foot, but others are detected after they get into waiting vehicles in remote locations.
Noem, as a former state governor in the northern United States, appeared to have a deeper appreciation for the need for heavy duty snow tires to drive on back roads during snowy and icy conditions in winter. Noem, a South Dakota native, served that state as governor from 2019 until she was sworn in last month as Homeland Security Secretary.
New Hampshire, Vermont and New York are the three snowiest states in the continental United States and make up the Swanton Sector for the U.S. Border Patrol.
Noem arrived by private plane at Northeast Kingdom International Airport in Coventry about 2 p.m. Thursday and departed at dinnertime.
After meeting with federal employees in Newport, Noem was brought to the historic Haskell Free Library and Opera House in Derby Line, which straddles the international border. A black line on the wood floor marks the international boundary.
Noem was confirmed overwhelmingly by the U.S. Senate 59-34 on Saturday Jan. 25 and sworn in later that day by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home. U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and Peter Welch, D-Vt. voted against Noem, while the New Hampshire senate delegation provide full support for Noem.
Initial reports indicated Noem planned to visit U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Vermont after the fatal shooting, but she had to wait for her confirmation.
The Department of Homeland Security has 22 department, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and Citizenship and Immigration Services. She also oversees the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration.
Noem’s visit to Vermont was planned as low-key and done without any fanfare. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael P. Drescher, Gov. Phil Scott, Vermont State Police leaders and Orleans County Sheriff Jennifer Harlow were nowhere to be found.
Among those joining Noem were Acting CBP Commissioner Peter Flores and Border Patrol Chief Robert Garcia, who has directed the Swanton Sector since November 2022.
Noem had come under criticism last week from some national TV networks because she apparently wore makeup when she accompanied federal agents in high profile raids to pick up dangerous illegal immigrants for deportation. Noem has said “The worst will go first.” That means those involved in murders, sexual assaults, drug deals, kidnappings and violent gangs.
She has hit the ground running in her new post. Noem has said she plans to be in the field early on with Border Patrol Agents to learn about any specific needs they may have to make their job work better.
Winter tires are now on that list.
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Categories: Orleans County
Meet and greet. Now will we start getting more answers about what took place with this event as there seems to be more chapters to this story.
Did Alejandro Mayorkas ever visit the Vermont border about illegal immigration?
Just wonderin.
Since Kristie isn’t POTUS, she’s in the best alternate position she could be in!
While we have her attention, perhaps we can get her to ask the FBI if they shared any information with the border patrol regarding the people they had been watching for several days (weeks?). If the FBI had done that, perhaps the border agents would have known the suspects were armed and possibly dangerous. Not looking to point fingers…just suggesting that perhaps there is a policy that needs to be reviewed and communication between agencies better defined.
No, I think that fingers need to be pointed at agencies and people who are actively resisting the performance of President Trump’s new appointees, and where appropriate, names should be named and images posted. The resistance is being pushed by real people who need to held accountable for their nefarious actions. Elections matter. And of course Bernie Sanders voted against Homeland Security Secretary Noem’s confirmation. Bernie has his own national non-profit socialist organization, called ‘Our Revolution,’ whose sole function is to raise money to fund their ‘fight to resist’ anything President Trump endeavors to do to improve conditions in the United States. Vermont deserves much better, and snow tires for the Border Patrol…
Bernie, Becca, and Peter vote against anything with common sense and which protects and defends the vulnerable. What a travesty that they purport to represent the people of Vermont.
More stupidity and evil. But the contrast between the intentional darkness and sabotage of the USA by the Biden administration, and the bringing of light by the Trump administration to return common sense and the protection and restoration of our communities will only become increasingly more stark.
““Noem had come under criticism last week from some national TV networks because she apparently wore makeup when she accompanied federal agents in high profile raids to pick up dangerous illegal immigrants for deportation. Noem has said “The worst will go first.” That means those involved in murders, sexual assaults, drug deals, kidnappings and violent gangs.”” Seriously?!?!?! That shows how desperate MSM is to throw dirt on anyone associated withe the new administration. Makeup, wow… why should any of us care?