Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has been dubbed by some in the media as “ICE Barbie,” delivered a blunt two-word response on Thursday following the voluntary dismissal of a lawsuit filed against her by detained migrants.
The American Civil Liberties Union had filed the legal challenge on behalf of ten detained migrants whom the Trump administration was preparing to transfer to the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The civil rights organization withdrew their filing after several plaintiffs were deported while others declined to continue with the legal proceedings.
Noem responded to the dismissal by posting on social media platform X with a simple message directed at the illegal immigrants: “Suck it.”
The post, which included the official notice of voluntary dismissal, sparked immediate reactions across social media platforms, with responses largely split along political lines.
Conservative supporters praised the secretary’s direct approach, with one pro-Trump user writing, “That’s why Americans love you!”
Another supporter tweeted, “Best response EVER!!!”
Critics took a different view of the homeland security chief’s public statement.
One user called the response unprofessional and referenced a controversial story from Noem’s past involving shooting her dog.
Another supporter defended Noem’s comment, writing, “Aaaaaand the snowflakes here have a meltdown.”
One enthusiastic follower noted, “That’s not very lady like…and I love it!”
The Daily Mail outlined that some observers questioned the appropriateness of such language coming from an official government social media account, with one user pointing out it was posted from the Secretary of Homeland Security’s official page.
The original ACLU lawsuit claimed that the plaintiffs faced “risk of being transferred to Guantánamo without any legal authority, in violation of federal law and the U.S. Constitution.”
Among the plaintiffs were Venezuelan parents who had been separated from their two-year-old daughter, who was subsequently returned to Caracas.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that the child was placed in foster care to protect her from parents they alleged were members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
The Trump administration has implemented extensive immigration enforcement measures, deporting thousands of primarily Latin American migrants it characterizes as undocumented while canceling the legal status of others.
Administration officials claim many deportees are members of criminal gangs, including Tren de Aragua.
Legal representatives and family members of numerous deportees have disputed these criminal allegations.
The Daily Mail further noted that since February, more than 4,000 migrants have been returned to Venezuela, with some deported directly from the United States and others from Mexico.
The administration has faced criticism for utilizing the Guantánamo Bay facility as part of its immigration enforcement strategy.
“President Donald Trump has been very clear: Guantanamo Bay will hold the worst of the worst. That starts today,” Noem said, referring to the Venezuelan nationals.
Trump has announced plans to use the Cuban naval base as a detention center for up to 30,000 immigrants, specifically targeting what he terms the “worst criminal aliens” and individuals who are difficult to deport.
The president’s press secretary stated that Trump “is not messing around and he’s no longer going to allow America to be a dumping ground for illegal criminals from nations all over this world.”
Noem has faced scrutiny regarding her public image and approach to homeland security responsibilities.
Critics have pointed to various photo opportunities, including one where she appeared wearing an bulletproof vest while holding a machine gun that was inadvertently pointed toward a Border Patrol officer’s head.
“ICE Barbie” Noem drew criticism in another incident for wearing an expensive watch while confronting suspected gang members at an El Salvador prison facility where the administration had sent some migrants.
Shortly after assuming her role as Homeland Security Secretary, Noem participated in a predawn Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in New York City and posted about the operation on social media before its completion.
Department insiders reported that her social media post potentially compromised the operation by alerting targets, resulting in fewer arrests than officials had anticipated.
Noem had posted at 4:43 AM, writing “Live this AM from NYC. I’m on it,” along with a photograph of herself entering a vehicle while wearing an ICE baseball cap.
High-profile conservative commentators, including Meghan McCain and Megyn Kelly, have criticized the homeland security secretary for what they view as excessive focus on photo opportunities rather than substantive policy implementation.
