DHS Secretary Mullin Faces Criticism Over Stagnant Deportation Numbers
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Data released to Politico shows ICE deportations have not increased under Secretary Markwayne Mullin, prompting criticism from Trump allies and raising questions about the department's enforcement goals.
Data obtained by Politico indicates that the number of deportations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has remained flat this year, despite Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin’s pledge to accelerate removals. An insider familiar with the figures said the deportation totals have fluctuated but overall match the levels seen during the tenure of former DHS head Kristi Noem.
The steady detainee count, reported at roughly 68,000, suggests that arrests are not outpacing new detentions. ICE agents are averaging about 1,500 arrests and bookings per day, down from a peak of nearly 1,900 daily under Noem. The White House’s target of 3,000 daily removals, cited by Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, has not been met.
Mullin’s comments at a recent National Governors Association meeting, in which he emphasized the need to balance immigration enforcement with legal labor needs, drew criticism from prominent Trump supporters. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon told Politico’s Playbook that Mullin is “the wrong guy at the wrong time for the wrong job,” and suggested former political commentator Bill Pulte as a possible replacement.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement noting that more than 3 million unauthorized immigrants have left the United States through arrests and self-deportations, and that as of July 12 the agency had deported over 985,000 individuals and arrested over 1 million. The department declined to comment on the specific statistics reported by Politico.
"Secretary Mullin has been clear: if you come to the United States illegally, you will be detained and deported. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are enforcing the law and making America safe again," a DHS spokesperson said.
The latest figures add to ongoing scrutiny of Mullin’s approach to immigration enforcement within the Trump administration.