Sources told Bloomberg Government in February that the Department of Homeland Security is using polygraph examinations, or lie detector tests, with its employees to ferret out leakers who may have told press outlets about impending immigration raids.

Secretary Kristi Noem issued an internal directive that all polygraphs administered by the department were required to include a question about unauthorized communications with media and nonprofit organizations, the sources said.

“The Department of Homeland Security is a national security agency,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in an emailed statement to The Hill about the report. “We can, should, and will polygraph personnel.”

Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan have blamed internal leaks for low numbers of arrests during some raids.

They are serious

They have vowed to get to the bottom of any leaks, not only to catch more illegal immigrants, but to keep their people safe.

“Their job is dangerous enough. So we are going to address this very seriously,” Homan told reporters in early February.

Noem said that the polygraphs could also help to determine whether employees could continue to have access to classified or sensitive information and what positions they can hold within the agency.

Noem said that two leakers had been identified and would be referred to the Justice Department for prosecution.

They could get up to 10 years in prison for leaking classified information, and they will likely be looking for new jobs after they get out.

“We will find and root out all leakers. They will face prison time & we will get justice for the American people," Noem said.

The people have spoken

While Democrats want to facilitate more immigration, even if it is illegal, Republicans and the majority of American citizens don't want to see illegal immigration at the levels it was during the Biden administration.

Illegal immigration/border security was one of the biggest issues in the 2024 election, second only to the economy.

A majority, 55%, said in a Gallup poll before the election that they wanted to see immigration decrease. That was a significant jump from the 41% that said so the year before.

Pew Research reported last week that 59% of Americans supported increasing deportations, and would presumably take a dim view toward DHS employees leaking information about raids so that illegal immigrants, many of whom have committed other crimes, could avoid arrest and deportation.