The vote comes after all Republican senators, joined by eight Democrats, broke a filibuster on the South Dakota governor’s cabinet nomination Friday night.

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Saturday by a 59-34 vote, putting the former South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and President Donald Trump's plans to clamp down on illegal immigration.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem promised Friday to secure America’s southern border with Mexico as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Homeland Security.