Homeland Security chief Mullin faces criticism from Trump supporters over visa and ICE remarks
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Secretary Markwayne Mullin's comments on expanding farm work visas and limiting ICE raids prompted backlash from Trump-aligned figures, who accused him of softening immigration enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said at the National Governors Association summer meeting that expanding employment visas for the agricultural sector could help grow the economy, noting that the claim that such visas “steal American jobs” is not true across all industries. He emphasized a need to “take care of Americans first” while filling labor gaps.
His remarks were met with criticism from supporters of President Donald Trump. Former Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino posted on X that Mullin “delivered a masterclass in how to give terrible answers,” and Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren said his visa comments were “not what we voted for.”
Mullin later posted that there should be “no amnesty for illegal aliens. Ever,” asserting that anyone illegally present in the United States would be detained and deported.
He also addressed ICE enforcement, stating the agency is not conducting large-scale raids or traffic stops but is focusing on removing the “worst of the worst” individuals as they leave locations, a strategy he described as providing “safety for our streets.”
The response from Trump-aligned figures included Steve Bannon’s claim that Mullin is “the wrong guy at the wrong time for the wrong job,” and Oversight Project head Mike Howell’s comment that the base wants “commas in the deportation numbers, not drama.”
The Department of Homeland Security said Mullin works closely with senior advisors, including Stephen Miller and Tom Homan, to enforce immigration laws and remove criminal illegal aliens, reiterating that anyone entering the country illegally will be detained and deported under the current administration.