Markwayne Mullin: DHS secretary vows immigration arrest surge, faces White House tensions
Markwayne Mullin, the ninth U.S. secretary of homeland security, has vowed to maintain a surge in immigration arrests after a shooting, issued a 'zero-tolerance declaration' to undocumented immigrants, and faces growing.
Markwayne Mullin, the ninth U.S. secretary of homeland security, has vowed to maintain a surge in immigration arrests after a shooting and issued a 'zero-tolerance declaration' to undocumented immigrants. He also faces reported tensions with White House officials months into his tenure.
Markwayne Mullin, the U.S. secretary of homeland security, promised to maintain the surge in immigration arrests even after a shooting, and said he would deliver on President Donald Trump’s push for mass deportations. Mullin, a Republican, took office in 2026 as the ninth DHS secretary after serving as Oklahoma’s junior senator and, before that, as a House member. He has called for a FEMA overhaul, defended denying entry to a Somali World Cup referee, and threatened state election officials with lost funding if they do not comply with Trump’s demands. The former congressman now faces growing tensions with White House officials just months into his tenure, according to reports, while critics warn of inadequate oversight as hundreds of billions of dollars flow into immigration enforcement.
Mullin vows to keep immigration arrest surge after shooting
Markwayne Mullin, the ninth U.S. secretary of homeland security since 2026, said he will maintain the surge in immigration arrests even after a recent shooting. Appearing on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show on May 18, Mullin vowed to deliver on President Donald Trump’s push for mass deportations. According to reports, Mullin issued what he called a “zero-tolerance declaration” to undocumented immigrants. The declaration came as daily deportations exceeded 3,200, according to reports. Critics have responded with backlash over rising detentions and fatal enforcement encounters, reports suggest. Mullin had promised a quieter Department of Homeland Security, but his posture has hardened since taking office in January.
From Oklahoma congressman to Trump's DHS chief
Markwayne Mullin took office as the ninth U.S. secretary of homeland security in January 2026, after a rapid rise through Oklahoma’s congressional ranks. He served as the state’s junior U.S. senator from 2023 to 2026, and before that as the U.S. representative for Oklahoma’s second congressional district from 2013 to 2023. A Republican, Mullin used a National Governors Association meeting in Oklahoma City to call for an overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He said he plans to introduce policy reforms aimed at reducing states’ dependence on federal disaster aid.
Mullin begins serving as U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 2nd district
Mullin begins serving as junior U.S. senator from Oklahoma
Mullin begins serving as ninth U.S. secretary of homeland security
Mullin appears on Sean Hannity's show to discuss a shooting
Democratic Senate runoff between Jim Priest and Jasmine Thomas scheduled
2026 U.S. Senate election in Oklahoma scheduled
Denies Somali referee, threatens networks and state officials
Markwayne Mullin defended the decision to block a Somali World Cup referee from entering the United States. He then accused ABC and NBC of covering up election security information after both networks declined to air President Donald Trump’s primetime address, according to reports. Mullin claimed that 250,000 non-citizens are registered to vote in four Democrat-run states. He threatened state election officials with the loss of federal funding or investigations if they did not comply with Trump’s election demands, according to reports. The remarks drew criticism.
Mullin promised to maintain the surge in immigration arrests even after shootings.
Oklahoma Senate race looms as Mullin faces criticism
The 2026 U.S. Senate election in Oklahoma is set for November 3. Congressman Kevin Hern is the Republican nominee. The Democratic nominee will be decided in an August 25 runoff between attorney Jim Priest and nurse Jasmine Thomas.
Mullin appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show on May 18 to discuss a shooting. According to reports, viewers called out Mullin for a verbal blunder during the segment. The race to succeed Mullin, who vacated his Senate seat to lead the Department of Homeland Security, has drawn national attention as both parties compete for the open seat.
Critics sound alarm on DHS oversight, White House tensions
Critics have raised concerns about oversight of the Department of Homeland Security after hundreds of billions of dollars were directed into immigration enforcement. Reports indicate Mullin is facing “growing tensions” with White House officials just months into his tenure as secretary. At the National Governors Association meeting, critics described his remarks on deportation and sanctuary cities as “gaslighting,” with some labeling him “already a failure.”
Frequently asked questions
Who is Markwayne Mullin?
Markwayne Mullin is the ninth United States secretary of homeland security, serving since 2026. A Republican, he previously served as the junior U.S. senator from Oklahoma from 2023 to 2026 and as a U.S. representative for Oklahoma's second congressional district from 2013 to 2023.
What is Markwayne Mullin's immigration policy?
Mullin has promised to maintain the surge in immigration arrests even after shootings, according to his own statements. He said he would seek to deliver on President Trump's push for mass deportations. Reports suggest he issued a 'zero-tolerance declaration' threatening undocumented immigrants, with daily deportations exceeding 3,200 at the time.
What did Markwayne Mullin say about FEMA?
Mullin called for a FEMA overhaul at a national governors meeting in Oklahoma City. He plans to introduce policy reforms to reduce states' reliance on federal aid, according to his own statements.
Who is running for Senate in Oklahoma in 2026?
The 2026 Oklahoma Senate election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. Congressman Kevin Hern is the Republican nominee. The Democratic nominee will be decided in a runoff on August 25 between attorney Jim Priest and nurse Jasmine Thomas.
What controversies surround Markwayne Mullin?
Reports suggest Mullin is facing 'growing tensions' with White House officials just months into his role as DHS Secretary. Critics have called his remarks on deportation and sanctuary cities 'gaslighting' and labeled him 'already a failure'. He has also accused ABC and NBC of covering up election security information.
Compiled from reporting by 6 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
