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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is on the verge of receiving Secret Service protection as she campaigns. The decision came after a congressional advisory committee recommended that Haley be granted a protective detail, a proposal now pending final approval by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Haley, who has emerged as the sole GOP contender against former President Donald Trump for the party’s nomination, has reported an increase in threats amidst her campaign efforts. With the South Carolina primary looming, where Haley will directly compete with Trump, the urgency for securing protection has intensified. A source familiar with the situation disclosed that the Secret Service is poised to deploy security teams to safeguard Haley, reflecting the seriousness with which these threats are taken.

The Secret Service’s mandate includes the protection of presidential and vice-presidential candidates within 120 days of a general election. The decision-making process involves assessing whether a candidate is considered major based on criteria such as official documentation with the Federal Election Commission and the threat level against the candidate.

DHS’s 2024 budget overview notes an earlier-than-usual onset of candidate protection requests, indicating a changing landscape in campaign security needs.