Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin promised a better approach on immigration enforcement and, despite recent criticism of the Homeland Security department, pledged that as its leader he would be protecting everybody.
The senator's remarks came as he was questioned by colleagues considering his nomination to lead the DHS following Kristi Noem's departure earlier this month. Reopening the department amid the partial government shutdown, potential growth of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) centres across the US, and ICE's use of judicial warrants all came up during the three-hour hearing. Mullin is vying for the job as the DHS enters its fifth week without funding, and concerns surrounding a lack of pay for workers loomed during questioning.
The committee expects a vote on Thursday on Mullin's nomination which would move to a full Senate vote next. Here are five takeaways from the hearing.
Mullin regrets Alex Pretti remarks
Many questions from senators focused on ICE and opposition the agency has faced in the wake of increased federal immigration efforts in cities across the US, particularly those led by Democrats.
A few Democratic senators mentioned that Mullin was answering questions before the committee because of criticism of his predecessor, Noem. Michigan Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat, pressed Mullin on his comments about Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old man who was shot and killed in January by federal immigration officials in Minneapolis.
The Oklahoma senator previously said Pretti was deranged and was attempting to do maximum damage when he approached federal agents. On Wednesday, Mullin said he regretted his comments, but he would not apologize to Pretti's family until the investigation into the incident is complete. Mullin said he would not make similar comments as Homeland Security secretary.
I can have different opinions with everybody in this room, but as secretary of homeland I'll be protecting everybody, Mullin said. My goal in six months is that we're not in the lead story every single day.
DHS shutdown on everyone's minds
The DHS has gone without funding since February, after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement. President Donald Trump's administration blamed delays on Democrats, who declined to pass funding without immigration reforms. That disagreement was on full display at Mullin's hearing.
We have to realize that we're putting our homeland and the peace of mind at risk for the American people, Mullin said of the shutdown.
Sometimes it's political theater, sometimes it's true differences. But what we do know is that we're playing with fire. We have 280,000 employees right now that are on day 30 without pay, and they're still showing up every single day to do their job.
Repeatedly, Republicans used their time to admonish Democrats for shutting down DHS, as thousands of TSA workers go without paychecks. Democrats, however, said they offered to fund certain parts of DHS, including TSA, should reforms surrounding ICE be agreed to.
What would ICE look like on Mullin's watch?
Democrats zeroed in on how ICE has operated during Noem's tenure and how Mullin's time may be different. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, asked Mullin about securing judicial warrants before entering homes or businesses - a major issue in Trump's mass deportation drive. Mullin said he has made it very clear to Homeland Security staff that judicial warrants will be used to enter properties unless agents are actively pursuing someone inside.
Fellow Republican snubs Mullin
The hearing started out with a verbal tussle between the committee chair, Republican Rand Paul, of Kentucky, and Mullin. Paul jumped into remarks surrounding political violence in the US, specifically an attack Paul himself faced, where he was attacked and had six of his ribs broken by a neighbor in 2017. Mullin previously said he understood why the neighbor attacked Paul. The senator offered Mullin an opportunity to apologize, which Mullin ignored.
I wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force, Paul said in his opening statement. Throughout the hearing, Paul attacked Mullin and his character.
Explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and border patrol agents, Paul said. Mullin pushed back throughout the hearing and at one point said it seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us. Let me earn your respect, let me earn the job, he said to Paul.
A feud comes to an end
Mullin is known on Capitol Hill for not holding back, a style of speaking that some describe as combative. The former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter nearly got into a physical altercation in the past with one former adversary - and so people in the room were surprised when that same man showed up in the front row at the hearing. Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the country's biggest unions, verbally attacked Mullin at a 2023 hearing, calling him a greedy CEO who pretends like he's self-made. At the time, Mullin stood up, seemingly to fight the union leader.
Though the fight never happened, the interaction went viral and Mullin repeatedly stood by his behavior. On Wednesday, O'Brien was in the front row at the hearing. When Mullin walked to the dais, he shook only one hand: O'Brien's. The two are now friends, Mullin said during the hearing.
