Kristi Noem is accused of lying to the public after federal officials said a dramatic story she shared about a cannibal immigrant on a deportation flight was completely fabricated.
The claim, which Noem repeated publicly in 2025 while defending the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, described a detainee who allegedly began eating his own arm during a deportation flight.
However, according to several federal law enforcement officials who spoke to reporters, there is no record that the incident ever occurred.
What Did Noem Say in the 2025 Press Conference
Noem first shared the story in July 2025 while appearing alongside Donald Trump at a press event promoting the administration's immigration enforcement policies. Speaking about what she described as dangerous individuals entering the country, Noem told reporters federal officers had detained a man she described as a 'cannibal.'
Kristi Noem told americans about a cannibal, ICE had detained who began eating himself during a deportation flight — a story that was completely made up pic.twitter.com/3Pv5jmo7Np
— Ounka (@OunkaOnX) February 24, 2026
According to her account, the man was placed on a deportation flight organised by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
While restrained on the plane, she said, the detainee allegedly began eating his own arm, forcing agents to remove him from the aircraft and seek medical help before completing the deportation. 'These are the kind of deranged individuals that are on our streets,' Noem said at the time.
Noem Repeated the Story On National Television
The claim resurfaced days later during an interview on Jesse Watters Primetime, where Noem repeated the story in greater detail. She told host Jesse Watters that a federal marshal described the detainee as someone who had eaten other people before.
'He said he was literally eating his own arms,' Noem said during the interview, adding that the detainee was eventually removed from the aircraft for medical attention before being deported.
The story circulated widely online and was cited by supporters of tougher immigration policies as an example of what they described as threats entering the United States.
Investigation Finds No Evidence
Months later, reporters attempting to verify the claim found no evidence that the event ever happened.
Officials familiar with deportation operations told investigators that internal records maintained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including those tracked by the agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations division, contained no reference to any such incident.
Meanwhile, other officials said the claim appeared to be 'made up' and could not be traced to any documented deportation flight.
DHS Response: Noem Repeated What She Was Told
A spokesperson for the United States Department of Homeland Security defended the former secretary, saying Noem had simply repeated a story she was told by a federal air marshal.
'What 'fabrication' of the story of the cannibal?' the spokesperson said in response to questions about the claim.
The spokesperson maintained that Noem had been recounting an anecdote shared with her during discussions with law enforcement personnel. Officials familiar with deportation flight operations, however, said they were unable to find any record that matched the description she gave.
Immigration Rhetoric Already Under Spotlight
The controversy also arises amid a broader debate about the language used in immigration politics.
During his presidential campaign and public speeches, Trump frequently referenced the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter while describing criminals he claimed were entering the United States.
Immigration advocates say stories like the alleged 'cannibal' deportation risk amplifying fear-based narratives about immigrants. For now, Noem has not publicly withdrawn the claim or provided additional evidence to support it.
Although President Trump fired Noem as Homeland Security Secretary on 5 March, she has been named the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.
