President Donald Trump announced that Kristi Noem, who had been facing increasing criticism from Congress, would transition from her role as Homeland Security Secretary to a new position in his Administration: “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.”

“Kristi Noem, the current Secretary, has served us well and achieved numerous, spectacular results—especially at the border. She will transition to become the Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere,” Trump stated on Thursday.

This announcement followed significant backlash Noem faced regarding the tactics employed by her department during the Administration’s immigration crackdown. In January, federal officers detained two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during protests against immigration policies, sparking outrage among civil rights groups and lawmakers.

Earlier this week, Noem testified before Congress, where members scrutinized a $220 million government advertising campaign featuring her. Although Noem claimed Trump had personally authorized the campaign, the President subsequently told reporters that he “never knew anything about it.”

Several Democrats welcomed Noem’s removal from the Department of Homeland Security, calling it “long overdue.” Nevertheless, Noem will retain a role within the Trump Administration in her new capacity. Although the Administration has released few details about the position thus far, here is what is currently known.

What is a special envoy?

A special envoy acts on behalf of the President or the Secretary of State, usually with a mandate to concentrate on a specific policy area.

“Special envoys can operate beyond the typical scope of an ambassador to tackle complex, multilateral issues,” according to foreign policy experts. “Because they respond to the specific needs of each administration, there is no fixed number of special envoys.”

What is the Shield of the Americas?

The Trump Administration has not disclosed specific details regarding the Shield of the Americas, other than the President describing it as a “new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere,” which he plans to formally announce on Saturday.

In a statement, Noem expressed her gratitude to Trump for the appointment. She indicated that her new responsibilities would include working “closely” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “to dismantle cartels that have flooded our nation with drugs and killed our children and grandchildren.”

“The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security,” she added. “In this new role, I will be able to expand upon the partnerships and national security expertise I developed over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security.”

Trump and the Americas

In December, the Trump Administration released a strategy document outlining its goal to “restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.” This includes collaborating with partners to “control migration, stop drug flows, and enhance stability and security on land and sea.” The document also detailed plans for “targeted deployments to secure the border and defeat cartels, utilizing lethal force where necessary to replace the failed law enforcement-only strategy of recent decades.”

Since beginning his second term, the President has intensified U.S. efforts against drug trafficking in Latin America. This includes authorizing military strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean on suspected trafficking vessels that have resulted in approximately 150 deaths since September, according to official reports. Additionally, the Trump Administration launched a months-long campaign targeting former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which ended with his capture during a U.S. military operation in South America in January. Maduro was transported to a New York court, where he pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges.

The federal government also aided the Mexican government in an operation that led to Mexican forces capturing a drug kingpin known as “El Mencho” in February. Furthermore, officials disclosed this week that the U.S. and Ecuador have initiated a joint operation to combat narcoterrorism in the South American nation.

Many of these initiatives have generated controversy. Legal experts have challenged the legality of the Trump Administration’s lethal strikes on suspected drug boats. International observers expressed alarm regarding the U.S. attack resulting in Maduro’s capture, and Democratic lawmakers criticized the President for authorizing the military operation in Venezuela without prior Congressional approval.