Kristi Noem on Coast Guard's Role in Venezuelan Oil Tanker Seizure and Border Security

Appreciation for DHS Agencies

• 🇺🇸 Representative Tony Gonzales expresses gratitude to various Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies, including SISA, the Coast Guard, HSI, ICE, NCTC, Border Patrol, TSA, and the Secret Service for their service and dedication to national security.
• 👏 Specific commendations are given for their roles in protecting critical infrastructure, saving lives during Texas floods, combating gangs, deporting criminal aliens, vetting individuals, ending catch and release, and ensuring travel safety.

Venezuelan Oil Tanker Seizure Operation

• 🚢 A recent Coast Guard operation, conducted in partnership with the Department of War, Department of Justice, and FBI, successfully seized a Venezuelan oil tanker.
• 🎯 This operation was directed by the President to counter a regime that is systematically flooding the country with drugs and harming American citizens.
• ⚠️ The amount of cocaine interdicted under President Trump's administration alone could have killed 177 million Americans, highlighting the impact of these efforts at sea.

Border Security and National Safety

• 🏠 Representative Gonzales emphasizes the importance of securing America's "backyard," noting that for too long, border security has been neglected, leading to unvetted individuals and chaos.
• 📈 He credits President Trump and the current leadership for prioritizing border security, stating that Texans are safer today than a year ago.
• ✈️ An innovative idea of DHS owning its own airplanes for repatriation flights is highlighted as a game-changer for deporting convicted criminal aliens.