Noem Comments On Detention Center During Interview
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced sharp questioning from NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on Sunday over conditions at Florida’s new Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention facility. The interview turned confrontational as Noem defended the facility while Democrats described it as inhumane.
The state-run center, located in the Everglades, is currently holding 900 detainees with a maximum capacity of nearly 4,000. Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), toured the site on Saturday. In her remarks, Schultz labeled the facility an “internment camp” and accused the state of Florida of operating under inhumane conditions. Allegations include extreme overcrowding, unsanitary bathroom arrangements, and excessive heat inside the facility.
Kristi Noem talking with clearly partisan Welker on MEET THE PRESS going over her passed down Democrat talking points about the Texas Flood/ICE Raids & Alligator Alcatraz. EXCELLENT Job by @Sec_Noem
Noem says “JUST 1-2 HOURS OF THE FLOODING WE HAD DHS RESOURCES ON THE GROUND… pic.twitter.com/XwtEqkswqa
— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) July 13, 2025
During her interview, Noem dismissed the comparison to jail cells and pushed back on accusations of cruelty. She emphasized that while the facility is state-run, it meets or exceeds federal standards. “Our detention centers at the federal level are held to a higher standard than most local or state centers and even federal prisons,” Noem said before being interrupted by Welker.
Welker pressed Noem on reports of overcrowding, citing claims that more than 30 individuals were confined to a single space. Noem responded by criticizing Democratic lawmakers for failing to voice similar concerns during the Biden administration. “They never did that, and that’s why this politics has to end,” she said.
The host continued to press Noem, stating that Democrats were calling the facilities “cages.” Noem rejected the term, reiterating that the facilities are secure and meet legal requirements.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem tells Kristen Welker that the government response to the tragic Texas floods was unprecedented.
“This is what I think is really unfortunate is that we have a situation where so many individuals are playing politics with what happened to… pic.twitter.com/hGvt4lwu12
— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) July 13, 2025
In response to the criticism, Noem announced plans to allow media access to the detention facilities to document current conditions. She also encouraged illegal immigrants to self-deport as a way to avoid the detention process and seek legal reentry in the future.
Meanwhile, former Trump administration official Tom Homan also weighed in on the debate during a separate appearance on CNN’s State of the Union. He accused Democrats of selectively ignoring poor conditions during the Biden administration, including reports of migrants held in outdoor enclosures under extreme heat.
