The suspect who was arrested Saturday in the theft of Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse is in the country illegally, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia said in an interview with NBC News.
Ed Martin said a second suspect who also is in the country illegally is being sought by law enforcement.
It is not believed the suspect targeted Noem because she was the Department of Homeland Security secretary, Martin said.
“There is no indication it was because of that. It was frankly, it was a nice looking purse,” Martin said, in a recorded telephone interview.
In the call, Martin said Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now involved.
“President Trump’s direction to us is we charge these folks that are here illegally and we prosecute them, as well as deport them when need be, you know, as soon as that can happen,” Martin said, adding, “What I can tell you is he won’t be back on the streets in America.”
The person who took the bag knew what he was doing, Martin said.
“This was not an amateur. This was a person, a thief, that knew how to do this. You could see how he scouted the room out.”
No further information about the man’s