By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
A recent visit by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to the Haskell Free Library and Opera House has sparked strong reactions on both sides of the border, with community members decrying what they see as disrespectful remarks made during her appearance.
Noem visited the historic cross-border library on Jan. 30, accompanied by U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security officials, and the Secret Service. Her visit was unannounced until the morning of her arrival, when federal agents informed library staff that she would be touring the space. According to reports, Noem stood on the American side of the library, declared, “USA number one,” and then stepped onto the Canadian side, saying, “The 51st state.”
Witnesses, including library staff, found the remark inappropriate. “My employees were very shocked by what they saw,” said Sylvie Boudreau, president of the library’s board of trustees. She was in another room speaking with Homeland Security officials at the time of the incident but later heard about it from multiple staff members and volunteers. “They were surprised that she would do something like that,” she said. “For us, it was not respectful.” She also noted that Noem’s staff found the remark amusing.
The library, which has stood for over a century as a symbol of cross-border unity, operates in a unique legal grey area, allowing Canadians and Americans to enter from their respective countries without passing through an official border crossing. Given its history and role in fostering international community ties, Noem’s remarks have been widely condemned as needlessly provocative.
“The library was made to unite the two communities, to unite the people from the United States and Canada,” Boudreau emphasized. “It was very loose, and everything was fun. We’ve always been one big family at the library.”
