Kristi Noem isn’t pulling punches—and neither is her Homeland Security operation. In a stunning announcement, Noem revealed the arrest of over 150 illegal migrants in Florida with criminal records for sexual offenses, many of them targeting minors.
She didn’t mince words when she described the crackdown as “Operation Dirtbag,” making it unmistakably clear what she thinks of these criminals.
“These individuals were sex offenders, but not just sex offenders; they targeted children,” Noem declared. “This operation was called Operation Criminal Return… I call it Operation Dirtbag,” she told reporters in Tallahassee.
The initiative, executed in partnership with Florida law enforcement, is the most aggressive sweep of its kind in recent history.
The illegal migrants arrested were not random border crossers. According to official reports, they had previous convictions ranging from child molestation to possession of child pornography. Their return to the U.S. after deportation is a glaring indictment of Biden-era border policies that have left Americans vulnerable to repeated criminal infiltration.
Noem didn’t hesitate to hammer that point home. “This is what open borders get us—child predators walking the streets of our cities,” she said during her press conference. “I will not stand by while Americans are put at risk.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed that 153 individuals were apprehended in what they described as a “multi-agency joint task force operation.” The arrests included suspects in Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, and other key metro areas.
While the official name of the sweep was “Operation Criminal Return,” Noem’s renaming of it as “Operation Dirtbag” has stuck. She used the term repeatedly in her remarks and on social media, saying, “Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets. That’s my mission.” Her unapologetic tone has won praise from conservatives across the country.
The media’s reaction has been predictably split. Left-wing outlets blasted the use of the term “dirtbag” as “dehumanizing.” But to millions of Americans tired of coddling criminals, Noem’s language was a breath of fresh air. It cut through bureaucratic nonsense and called evil by its name.
Conservative pundits applauded her. “This is what leadership looks like,” said one Fox News commentator. “Kristi Noem is putting criminals behind bars and protecting children, while the left is still wringing its hands over pronouns and open borders.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another vocal immigration hawk, joined Noem for part of the press conference. “We are working together to protect Floridians. We won’t allow these criminals to hide behind sanctuary city protections or Biden’s failed policies,” DeSantis said.
The operation has sparked national debate over whether states should have more control over immigration enforcement. Noem argued that the federal government has abdicated its responsibilities, forcing states like Florida and South Dakota to take matters into their own hands.
“These crimes should never happen in the first place,” Noem said. “But when the federal government refuses to do its job, the states must step up.”
Critics claim Noem is using the issue to boost her political profile. But supporters counter that leadership in crisis should never be dismissed as political theater. “If this is grandstanding,” said one Florida mom whose neighborhood saw an arrest, “then I say grandstand away.”
This operation was not Noem’s first foray into immigration enforcement. In recent months, she’s deployed South Dakota National Guard troops to help Texas secure its border and has made immigration policy central to her national messaging.
The Biden administration, for its part, had no immediate comment. That silence is deafening to many who see the growing list of crimes committed by repeat border offenders as a direct result of weak federal enforcement.
Noem has stated that similar operations are being planned in other states. “We’re just getting started,” she said. “And I promise you this: every single one of these predators will face justice.”
Despite the operation’s success, Noem was clear-eyed about the scope of the challenge. “We’re dealing with a systemic failure. Border security, immigration courts, deportation enforcement—it’s all broken. But we won’t let that stop us.”
Public support for the operation appears strong. A poll released by a Florida conservative think tank found that over 70% of likely voters approve of the operation, with 58% saying Noem’s “Operation Dirtbag” makes them more likely to support her in a future election.
At a local town hall after the operation, Noem was met with applause and standing ovations. “This is why I trust Kristi,” said one attendee. “She says what we’re all thinking and then goes out and gets it done.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has ignited a political firestorm following a controversial interview in which he vowed to use government power to target former members of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The remarks, delivered during an appearance on MSNBC, have been condemned by critics as a blatant admission of intent to weaponize the government against political opponents.
Jeffries’ comments came while criticizing last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming broad presidential immunity for official actions taken while in office.
Speaking to host Chris Hayes, Jeffries accused Trump of “corruption” and “abuse of power” before issuing a chilling warning about what Democrats would do if they regain control of the House of Representatives.
“There are so many corrupt sycophants within the Trump administration, including but not limited to, within the Department of Justice,” Jeffries said. “Now these people don’t have immunity, and the reality is, the statute of limitations is five years. And there will be accountability with the next administration if not before, when Democrats take back control of the House of Representatives.”
The remarks sent shockwaves through Washington, as critics accused Jeffries of openly threatening political retaliation. Republicans called the statement dangerous, saying it exposed the Democrats’ willingness to use the machinery of government to settle political scores.
Jeffries’ remarks came amid a tumultuous political climate where public trust in government institutions continues to erode. By suggesting that his party would pursue criminal charges against Trump officials if Democrats return to power, Jeffries handed Republicans a powerful talking point: that Democrats intend to criminalize political opposition.
“This is what authoritarian regimes do,” one GOP lawmaker said. “They don’t compete in elections — they use prosecutors and bureaucrats to destroy their opponents.”
Jeffries’ statement also came at a time when multiple Democratic figures are themselves facing criminal investigations. The contrast has not been lost on political observers, who point out the irony of Jeffries calling for accountability while several of his own party’s leaders stand accused of serious crimes.
Just last month, former FBI Director James Comey was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing justice. Days later, New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted for alleged mortgage fraud involving a Virginia property.
And now, Congressman Adam Schiff is reportedly under investigation for similar allegations — part of an expanding series of scandals rocking the Democratic Party’s upper ranks.
Perhaps the most explosive of these scandals involves Congressman Adam Schiff, who served as the House Intelligence Committee’s chair during the Trump years.
Newly declassified FBI documents, obtained by Just the News, contain testimony from a longtime intelligence officer who claims Schiff personally authorized the leaking of classified information to damage then-President Trump.
According to FBI 302 interview reports, the whistleblower — described as a registered Democrat and former committee staffer — told investigators he attended a meeting where Schiff explicitly instructed his team to leak classified material “derogatory to President Donald J. Trump.”“When working in this capacity, [redacted staffer’s name] was called to an all-staff meeting by Schiff,” the report stated. “In this meeting, Schiff stated the group would leak classified information which was derogatory to President of the United States Donald J. Trump. Schiff stated the information would be used to indict President Trump.”
The whistleblower said he objected to the plan, warning that leaking classified material was “unethical, illegal, and possibly treasonous.” But he was allegedly told by others present that the group would not be caught.
The same witness had raised similar concerns to the FBI as far back as 2017, when the Trump administration began investigating intelligence community leaks. The reports were largely ignored by then-FBI leadership, including Christopher Wray, who has since been replaced by current FBI Director Kash Patel.
Kash Patel, a former federal prosecutor and senior intelligence official, has moved swiftly to reopen and expand investigations into past abuses of power by federal officials.
Under his leadership, the FBI has turned over previously hidden documents to Congress, including those detailing the alleged Schiff leaks. Patel has described the agency’s new mission as a long-overdue “housecleaning” of political corruption.
“For years, certain officials used their positions to selectively leak classified information to shape political narratives,” Patel said in a statement. “We’re ending that era permanently.”
Patel’s reforms have included dismissing senior officials accused of partisan misconduct, dismantling internal corruption units that had shielded leadership from accountability, and cutting ties with activist organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League. He has promised full transparency and pledged to restore the FBI’s reputation as an impartial law enforcement agency.
Against this backdrop, Jeffries’ threats of “accountability” for Trump officials appear tone-deaf. While Democrats are embroiled in multiple corruption investigations, their House leader’s vow to target political opponents feeds into Republican claims that the left has turned justice into a political weapon.
Political analysts have warned that Jeffries’ comments could severely damage Democrats ahead of the next election cycle. “It’s a disastrous move,” said one former D.C. strategist. “When your party is already facing indictments, you don’t go on television threatening to use the government against your rivals. It reinforces every negative perception about Democratic hypocrisy.”
The backlash has been swift and intense. Conservative media figures and lawmakers have demanded Jeffries retract his statement or resign from his leadership role. Social media erupted with calls for his resignation, with hashtags like #JeffriesResign and #WeaponizedDemocrats trending on X (formerly Twitter).
Critics note that Jeffries’ threat is consistent with a broader pattern within his party. Since 2016, Democrats have repeatedly used congressional committees, intelligence agencies, and state prosecutors to pursue Trump and his allies.
From the Mueller investigation to the numerous state-level indictments against Trump, Republicans argue that the left’s obsession with revenge has consumed their political agenda.
Now, with the FBI and DOJ actively investigating multiple Democratic leaders for corruption, the tables appear to be turning. Letitia James faces a maximum of 60 years in prison if convicted of bank fraud and making false statements to financial institutions.
Schiff’s alleged role in leaking classified information could carry penalties of up to 20 years. Even former Obama-era officials are reportedly under federal scrutiny for document tampering and obstruction during the Trump transition period.
“The justice system is finally catching up with them,” one congressional aide said. “That’s why Jeffries is panicking — he knows Democrats are running out of time.”
Following the MSNBC interview, several Republican lawmakers called on Jeffries to step aside. Representative Lauren Boebert described his comments as “authoritarian and un-American,” while Senator Ted Cruz said the remarks “exposed the Democrats’ true agenda — power at any cost.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson weighed in, saying, “Hakeem Jeffries just told the American people that Democrats intend to weaponize the government if they win back power. That’s not democracy; that’s a threat to democracy.”
Johnson added that Republicans will introduce a formal resolution condemning Jeffries’ remarks and reaffirming the principle that law enforcement must remain independent from political influence.
In Washington, even some Democrats have privately acknowledged that Jeffries’ statement was a mistake. Party insiders fear the controversy could alienate moderate voters and energize Republican turnout. With the 2026 elections looming, Democrats can ill afford to appear as though they support using federal agencies for partisan purposes.
Yet Jeffries has shown no sign of backing down. When pressed for clarification, his office issued a brief statement insisting that he was “simply advocating for accountability and transparency.”
However, the wording of his comments — particularly his emphasis on prosecuting “Trump sycophants” — has made damage control nearly impossible.
The Democratic Party now finds itself facing a credibility crisis on multiple fronts. Its leaders are under federal investigation. Its most prominent prosecutors face criminal charges. And its House leader is publicly threatening political retribution.
Meanwhile, Republicans are unified in their messaging and enjoying a surge of grassroots support. Conservative commentators have urged the GOP to remain firm and avoid compromise, arguing that Democrats’ overreach is backfiring spectacularly.
“The American people are watching,” said a senior Republican strategist. “They see who’s trying to govern and who’s trying to settle scores.”Hakeem Jeffries’ televised threat to weaponize the government against Trump officials may go down as one of the most damaging political blunders of his career.
At a time when Democrats are already facing mounting legal and ethical scandals, his words have reinforced public doubts about their commitment to fairness, justice, and the rule of law.
While Jeffries’ allies dismiss the controversy as partisan overreaction, the optics are clear: one of the nation’s top lawmakers has openly threatened to use the state’s power to punish political rivals. In a country already divided and distrustful of its institutions, that message could prove catastrophic — not just for Jeffries, but for the Democratic Party he leads.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday evening approved a spending package to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, despite opposition from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and most House Democrats.Lawmakers voted 222 to 209 to reopen the government, with six Democrats breaking ranks to support the measure. The White House said President Donald Trump will promptly sign the bill into law.
The Democrats who voted in favor were Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Adam Gray of California, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Don Davis of North Carolina, and Tom Suozzi of New York, the Daily Caller reported.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a fiscal conservative, voted against the government funding package. He was joined by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who opposed the bill due to a provision allowing senators to sue the federal government if their phone records are seized without prior notice.
“I’m not gonna send [Republican South Carolina Sen.] Lindsey Graham half a million dollars,” Steube told reporters before he voted.
The 43-day government shutdown left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay while still requiring them to cover their bills, disrupted access to federal food assistance for low-income Americans, and caused widespread travel delays across the country.
The Senate passed the spending package Monday night, ending weeks of gridlock after Democrats delayed action on funding the government for nearly seven weeks.
The funding agreement notably excludes Democrats’ top demand — a guaranteed extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits — which Republicans had rejected as a nonstarter.
Both Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the measure, which ultimately passed both chambers after several Democrats broke ranks to support it.
While Jeffries has largely avoided criticism over the party’s handling of the shutdown, Schumer has faced sharp backlash from progressives for failing to maintain unity within his caucus and for allowing the government to reopen without securing key Democratic priorities.
The deal will keep the government funded through the end of January and includes tens of millions of dollars in new security assistance for all three branches of government. It also requires the Trump administration to rehire roughly 4,000 federal employees laid off during the shutdown and prohibits additional reductions-in-force (RIFs) until Jan. 30, the outlet reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended that aspect of the deal when she was asked about it on Wednesday.
“If you look at that [the recent layoffs] in comparison to the reduction in the federal workforce that this administration has done since January … to reduce the size of our federal bureaucracy, we’ve done a lot of great work on that front. And we will continue to,” she told the Daily Caller.
“The president’s main priority was to reopen the federal government and get people back to work,” Leavitt added.
Jeffries and nearly all members of his caucus voted against a stopgap spending bill on Sept. 19 that would have averted the government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson kept the chamber in recess throughout the funding lapse until the Senate approved a similar measure Monday night.
“The long national nightmare is almost coming to an end now,” Johnson told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday. “The irony is it really was a shutdown about nothing…what we’re voting on is effectively exactly what we offered them several weeks back.”
“I don’t think Chuck Schumer got anything out of this other than a political show,” Johnson continued. “And sadly, I think that’s what he was after the whole time.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Tuesday that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) “never” spoke with him about the ongoing government shutdown, adding that “no one really knows” who is leading Democrats in Congress.