Federal officials tasked with implementing the Trump administration's mass deportation program faced an extraordinary campaign of intimidation inside the Department of Homeland Security during the final months of Kristi Noem's tenure and the arrival of her successor, according to interviews with more than three dozen current and former DHS officials.
Over the past four months, the Guardian spoke with officials who described a climate of fear driven by Trump loyalists in senior positions.
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Career officials who raised concerns about possibly illegal acts were sidelined or removed, and some faced threats of termination or arrest to stop dissent.
Polygraph Examinations by Military Personnel
Several current and former officials claimed they were subjected to polygraph examinations conducted by US military personnel.
The officials told the Guardian that the examiners identified themselves as air force personnel being used to interrogate civilian employees of a separate federal agency.
The polygraph tests were ostensibly prompted by unspecified concerns about security clearances.
None of the former officials said they were shown the underlying allegations or given an opportunity to respond before being ordered to appear.
All said they believed the justification was fabricated and used to create a climate of fear.
Several former officials recalled being read their Miranda rights before questioning began, which strongly implied they could be arrested.
Employees received written notice that the examination was voluntary, but supervisors told them refusal could result in loss of security clearance and their job.
