Overview
- At the National Governors Association meeting on Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin urged changes to some work visas and asked states to cooperate with federal detainers to prioritize removing the "worst of the worst."
- Hours after the speech he posted on X that there would be "NO amnesty for illegal aliens. Ever," a move that did not placate right-wing influencers who said his earlier comments showed weakness on deportations.
- Prominent MAGA figures led by Steve Bannon publicly pressed President Trump to replace Mullin and floated acting DNI Bill Pulte as a possible successor.
- The White House has publicly backed Mullin, with deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson saying the president has confidence in him, even as unnamed administration officials voiced sharp private criticism of his style and decisions.
- Mullin’s tenure is already under strain because ICE arrests, removals, and detention levels rose to record or near-record highs under his watch and his operational choices — including a brief pause on ICE vehicle stops after fatal shootings — have intensified scrutiny that could affect his nominees and job security.