One of the most visible public defenders of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy is set to depart the Department of Homeland Security, according to two DHS officials familiar with the move.
Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is expected to inform colleagues Tuesday that she will be leaving the department next week, the officials said. McLaughlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Her departure comes at a pivotal moment for DHS, as the administration continues to press forward with a hardline immigration crackdown that has drawn both strong support and mounting criticism. McLaughlin has been one of the most vocal advocates for the administration’s approach, particularly during high-profile enforcement actions in cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis.
Throughout those operations, McLaughlin frequently engaged critics on social media and publicly defended controversial tactics employed by federal immigration authorities. She has been a consistent presence during some of the department’s most tense moments, pushing back against detractors and framing the administration’s policies as necessary to uphold the rule of law.
Her exit leaves a communications gap at a time when DHS faces a funding lapse and ongoing negotiations in Congress over potential reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. It remains unclear who will assume her communications responsibilities. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on a successor.
McLaughlin previously served as a top communications aide to Vivek Ramaswamy during his 2024 presidential campaign and also worked for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. According to individuals briefed on her plans, she began preparing to leave DHS in December but postponed her departure in the wake of the Renee Good and Alex Pretti shootings. Those individuals were granted anonymity to discuss internal personnel matters.
In the case involving Good, McLaughlin was quick to describe the incident as an example of “domestic terrorism,” underscoring the department’s forceful public posture.
Behind the scenes, however, some within the Trump administration have reportedly expressed concerns about Noem’s leadership at DHS. The department has faced negative headlines in connection with its handling of the two fatal shootings, including criticism that it moved too quickly in drawing conclusions.
President Trump appointed border czar Tom Homan to oversee operations in Minneapolis, a move that some in the White House reportedly viewed as a counterbalance to Noem’s more aggressive strategy.
This story is developing…
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