Former U.S. Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem hired by B.C. mining company

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

A British Columbia mining company has hired former U.S. secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in a strategic advisory role.

In an announcement Tuesday, Vancouver-based NovaRed Mining Inc. said Noem will support its mission of “acquiring and advancing critical mineral exploration opportunities through its artificial intelligence-enhanced technology platform.”

Noem served as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security from January 2025 to March 2026. During that time, she came under fire for aggressive immigration crackdowns in U.S. cities and her handling of the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis.

After coming under scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans for a $220 million DHS advertisement campaign that heavily featured her, Noem was removed from the role and President Donald Trump appointed her as “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.”

In a news release, NovaRed touted the former South Dakota governor’s experience in economic development, infrastructure, energy, agriculture and national security.

“Kristi brings exceptional leadership experience and a deep understanding of the policy, regulatory, and economic factors that influence infrastructure investment, resource development, and long-term economic growth,” CEO Brian Goss said, in the release. “Her perspective and experience working across government and industry will be valuable as NovaRed advances its corporate development strategy and evaluates new opportunities.”

Noem is also quoted in the announcement, saying, “In an increasingly competitive global environment, secure and reliable access to critical minerals has become an important economic and national security priority.”

Earlier this month, NovaRed also appointed retired U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps. Colonel Mark A. Calabrese to its advisory board.

The company has a U.S. patent pending for its artificial intelligence-powered mining exploration platform. It says it has secured two properties near Princeton with potential for copper extraction.

With files from Reuters