Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused CBS News of 'shamefully' editing her interview to omit critical allegations against Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, linked to MS-13, human smuggling, and domestic abuse.

Noem posted her unedited remarks on social media, detailing Garcia's criminal activities and claiming CBS cut 26 seconds to 'whitewash' the truth, removing nearly four minutes of her 16-minute interview.

The omitted content included Noem's explanations on DHS efforts to hire 10,000 agents and maintain standards, as well as details about the arrest of 5,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles involved in serious crimes.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia faces federal charges of human smuggling and is seeking to reopen his immigration case and asylum, amid ongoing legal disputes and deportation efforts.

The Trump administration is attempting to deport Garcia again, highlighting ongoing immigration enforcement issues and controversy surrounding his deportation.

Garcia was initially granted withholding of removal in 2019 due to gang threats but was deported by the Trump administration despite this, based on a court ruling that he was a member of MS-13.

Garcia married an American citizen and has a child, and he was granted asylum in 2019, but his legal status remains complex with recent efforts to deport him to Uganda after refusing a plea deal.

Garcia is now facing potential deportation to Uganda after refusing to plead guilty to smuggling charges and declining a plea deal that would send him to Costa Rica.

Garcia was deported in March 2025 despite being protected from deportation due to threats, but he was returned to the U.S. in June after legal and Supreme Court pressure.

The White House publicly described Garcia as an illegal alien and MS-13 gang member, emphasizing the threat he poses to American communities.

The controversy underscores ongoing tensions over media editing practices, with critics alleging bias, and involves legal actions such as a gag order request from Garcia's attorneys.

This incident echoes past disputes where CBS was accused of editing interviews, including a $20 billion lawsuit by Trump over a '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris, settled with CBS paying $16 million.