Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., seen here at his confirmation hearing on March 18, was confirmed to run the Department of Homeland Security.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
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Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
On Monday, the Senate confirmed Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, placing him in charge of immigration enforcement, a major focus for President Trump. Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, won the confirmation with a 54-45 vote, succeeding Kristi Noem as the second secretary under this administration. He takes office amid a shutdown that has left over 100,000 employees of the department working without pay.
During his confirmation hearing, the 48-year-old Mullin urged senators to fund the Department of Homeland Security swiftly, emphasizing his readiness to lead the expansive agency.
“Facing challenges doesn’t scare me; failure does, which is why I will work diligently every day,” Mullin stated during his hearing. “In six months, I aim for us not to be the lead story daily. I want people to know we are here, protecting and collaborating with them. I strive to make each of you proud.”
The Department of Homeland Security has been pivotal in Trump’s mass deportation strategies, initiated through a series of executive orders. Over the past year, the department has ramped up its actions, supported by billions of dollars from a Republican-backed bill passed last summer. Their efforts have led to a record low in border encounters, restricted legal migration, and increased immigrant detention numbers.
Additionally, the department has aggressively enforced immigration laws by deploying officers to cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and Minneapolis. A recent operation in Minneapolis ended in the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents. Another American citizen was killed in Texas last year.
Kristi Noem, the outgoing Secretary, was a prominent figure in these initiatives, often appearing on TV and in advertisements to support the administration’s actions.
Noem faced bipartisan criticism after labeling the actions of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old shot by Border Patrol agents, as “domestic terrorism.” She was also scrutinized for the department’s $250 million ad campaign prompting immigrants to self-deport, which Noem claimed had Trump’s approval.
Mullin has promised a more moderate approach to immigration and to engage with critics. His nomination was supported by two Democrats, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.
At his hearing, Mullin committed to visiting a New Jersey town where the agency plans to convert warehouses into detention centers.
He also advocated for using judicial warrants to enter homes and businesses, unless officers are pursuing someone, offering a potential concession to Democrats who demand less reliance on administrative warrants approved without a judge’s oversight, as part of negotiations to end the DHS shutdown.
Mullin also suggested restructuring the Federal Emergency Management Agency rather than eliminating it, as some in the Trump administration have suggested. Many lawmakers rely on federal funds for emergencies, and Noem had faced criticism over the agency’s efficiency in disaster relief distribution.
During his hearing, Mullin sidestepped questions about whether Joe Biden won the 2020 election and whether DHS officers would be stationed at polling locations during the midterms. DHS is involved in election security, including state grants. Mullin supports the SAVE America Act, requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and supports the administration’s actions in Venezuela and Iran.
Senators Rand Paul and Gary Peters expressed concerns about Mullin’s undisclosed foreign travels, questioning his whereabouts when he “smelled” war, as he described it. Both voted against his confirmation. The matter will be further explored in a confidential briefing.
“I don’t believe he is the right person for the job,” Peters stated on Monday before casting his vote against Mullin. “We need a secretary who is a steady leader, who won’t rush to judgment without all the facts and won’t escalate crises.”
Peters, along with other Democrats, largely opposed Mullin’s nomination, arguing that a change in leadership wouldn’t bring about the necessary reforms Americans are seeking.
Some lawmakers had hoped Mullin might offer more stability than his predecessor and help advance negotiations between Senate Democrats and the White House regarding DHS funding and immigration enforcement tactics.
However, this effort faced a significant obstacle over the weekend when Trump insisted that any agreement must include the voting law overhaul he champions, the Save America Act. With Trump and his advisors steering strategy from the White House, Mullin’s influence on the situation remains uncertain.
Yet, a few Democrats remain optimistic. Heinrich, who considers Mullin a friend, voted to confirm him. “We often disagree, but we work to find common ground,” Heinrich wrote in a statement. “I’ve seen firsthand that Markwayne isn’t easily swayed from his views, and I look forward to having a Secretary who doesn’t take orders from Stephen Miller,” referring to Trump’s long-time advisor.
