Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has taken a no-nonsense stance on internal leaks related to immigration enforcement operations. In a press briefing held on February 25, 2025, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Noem announced that several individuals responsible for leaking sensitive information have been identified and will face termination—and potentially prosecution—for their actions.

We have found some leakers,” Noem stated firmly during her conversation with reporters. “We are continuing to get more. They will be fired and there will be consequences.” Her remarks come amid growing concerns about the security risks posed by the unauthorized disclosure of operational details, which, according to Noem, not only undermine federal efforts but also put the lives of law enforcement officers in jeopardy.

Aggressive Tactics to Root Out Leaks

Noem explained that her agency employed “every tactic” at its disposal to track down the leakers. Among these measures were polygraph tests and thorough examinations of electronic communications, including emails. “We are using all available tools to identify those who compromise our nation’s security by leaking vital information,” she asserted. Although she did not specify the exact number of individuals involved or name the agencies they belong to, her statement follows earlier allegations that suggested the FBI was partly responsible for leaking plans related to large-scale immigration enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area.

Earlier this month, an internal memo detailing plans for a massive ICE raid in Los Angeles was leaked and published by the Los Angeles Times. Noem did not mince words about the source of the leak, sharply criticizing the FBI in a February 9 post on X (formerly Twitter). “The FBI is so corrupt,” she wrote. “We will work with any and every agency to stop leaks and prosecute these crooked deep state agents to the fullest extent of the law.”