Noem Prioritizes Migrant Deportation Over Coast Guard Search-and-Rescue

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem drew criticism for pulling a Coast Guard plane off a search for a missing guardsman to fly detained migrants instead.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

According to new reporting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem angered senior Coast Guard officials early in her tenure by prioritizing deportation flights over search-and-rescue operations. This tension came to a head on February 4, 2025, when Noem verbally instructed the Coast Guard to pull a plane off a search for a missing 23-year-old guardsman who had gone overboard, so the plane could instead fly detained migrants from California to Texas.

Why it matters

The incident highlighted a clash between Noem's focus on border security and the Coast Guard's primary mission of search-and-rescue. It also raised concerns about Noem's leadership style and the impact on morale within the Coast Guard.

The details

During the search for the missing guardsman, Noem learned that a Coast Guard C-130 plane that was supposed to fly detained migrants was part of the search effort. She then instructed the Coast Guard's acting commandant to pull the plane off the search so it would not miss the migrant flight. This forced the regional Coast Guard command to scramble to find alternative aircraft to fly the migrants, allowing the C-130 to rejoin the search after about an hour. The search ultimately went on for 190 hours but the guardsman was never found.

  • On February 4, 2025, a 23-year-old Coast Guard member went overboard into the Pacific Ocean from the cutter Waesche.
  • Hours into the search, Noem intervened and instructed the Coast Guard to pull the C-130 plane off the search-and-rescue mission.

The players

Kristi Noem

The Homeland Security Secretary under President Donald Trump, who drew criticism for prioritizing migrant deportation over Coast Guard search-and-rescue operations.

Admiral Kevin Lunday

The Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard at the time, who was instructed by Noem to pull the C-130 plane off the search for the missing guardsman.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The primary mission was search-and-rescue, and now the number one stated mission of the Coast Guard is border security, that is a cultural change that the culture hasn't quite caught up to.”

— Former Coast Guard official (NBC News)

“You never know what's going to happen with Noem at the helm, and that source added that morale at Coast Guard headquarters 'is terrible.'”

— Former Coast Guard official (NBC News)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the tension between Homeland Security's focus on border security and the Coast Guard's core mission of search-and-rescue, raising concerns about Noem's leadership style and its impact on morale within the military branch she oversees.