The Senate voted on Saturday morning to confirm Kristi Noem as President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security secretary, installing a long-time Trump ally at the helm of an agency poised to play a central role in the president’s promised immigration crackdown.

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.

The two term South Dakota Gov. was tapped by Trump in November and will be key in enacting the new president's mass deportation plan.

Kristi Noem cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate on Friday, teeing up her final confirmation vote for early Sunday.

The Senate on Saturday confirmed Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security at a time when border security and illegal immigration are top priorities.

The 61-39 result tees up a final Saturday morning roll call vote on the Republican South Dakota governor’s Cabinet nomination.

The Senate confirmed Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Sunday during a weekend vote, as Republicans overcame efforts by Democrats to delay the process by using procedural hurdles.

In floor remarks Saturday morning, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer ripped into the Trump administration for firing at 17 independent inspectors generals. "It's a preview of the lawless approach Donald Trump," Schumer said.

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem on Saturday as the next secretary of Homeland Security, which has a lead role in immigration enforecment.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's nomination to become secretary of homeland security was confirmed with a vote of 59-34.

The role is key to Trump’s plans for his second term after pledging to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and impose a crackdown at the southern border.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have no plans to discuss the horror collision between an American Airlines plane and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, DC, after the Russian President offered his condolences,