DHS Secretary Noem Faces Criticism Amid Texas Flood Response

While ICE enforcement drew attention in Texas, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees ICE, faced scrutiny over the federal response to deadly July 4 floods in the state. Publicly released correspondence from Kerrville city officials revealed a lack of preparedness and included private text exchanges mocking Noem with nicknames such as “Homeland Barbie” and “ICE Barbie.”

Hours before a July 5 press conference on the flood response, a city employee texted city manager Dalton Rice: “Just saw you met Homeland Barbie. How is she?” Rice replied with, “Basically Homeland Barbie,” followed by laughter.

Criticism from Democrats was swift, with some, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), accusing the Trump administration of undermining FEMA’s preparedness by firing employees even as flood victims sought assistance. Noem, however, defended the federal response in an interview on Fox News Sunday, stating that more than 700 FEMA employees were deployed within hours and that the Coast Guard was dispatched immediately after consultations with Texas officials.

The dual controversies—the ICE arrests and the criticism of flood response—highlight ongoing tensions over border security, immigration enforcement, and disaster management, placing both federal and state officials under intense public scrutiny.