Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin faces mounting pressure from President Donald Trump’s MAGA base just four months after replacing Kristi Noem, with prominent figures calling for his ouster over what they view as a soft stance on immigration enforcement.
The backlash erupted after Mullin suggested at the National Governors Association summer meeting that the U.S. needs permanent work visas and immigration reform. During his speech, Mullin stated, “Is immigration reform possible? No,” before adding, “do you really need immigration reform? Yes, you do, but can we work with the system we have? Yes.”
Steve Bannon, the prominent MAGA podcaster, told Politico that “Mullin is the wrong guy at the wrong time for the wrong job—a time when we need focus on ‘mass deportations,’ we get an amnesty advocate.” Other conservative figures including Laura Loomer, Jack Posobiec, and former Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino joined the criticism, with Loomer calling for Mullin to be fired and Bovino describing Mullin’s remarks as “a masterclass in how to give terrible answers.”
Mullin’s comments about immigration reform were particularly controversial because they suggested a distinction between legal and illegal immigration. During his speech, Mullin highlighted that nearly 900,000 individuals had been naturalized in the past 12 months, a figure that MAGA activists interpreted as evidence that the administration was not sufficiently cracking down on legal immigration pathways.
The tension extends beyond Mullin’s public statements. Border czar Tom Homan has opposed Mullin’s nomination of Lance Schroyer to lead ICE, citing Schroyer’s limited federal immigration experience. Schroyer is a former Oklahoma state highway trooper and member of Mullin’s security detail who has worked primarily in state law enforcement, with his main federal immigration experience coming through a 287(g) partnership agreement. Mullin defended the choice on Fox News, saying he conducted a two-month job search before selecting Schroyer because “we wanted someone that could also be confirmed.”
The friction also stems from Mullin’s earlier decision to support a pause on ICE vehicle stops after fatal officer-involved shootings in Texas and Maine. Trump quickly reversed that policy, siding with Homan, which further undermined Mullin’s standing with the MAGA base.
Mullin’s position mirrors that of his predecessor. Trump fired Kristi Noem as DHS secretary in March 2026 after criticism of her leadership style and two fatal ICE shootings in Minnesota. Noem’s tenure lasted only weeks before Trump replaced her with Mullin, who promised during his Senate confirmation hearing that his goal was to improve the agency’s public image. “My goal in six months is that we’re not in the lead story every single day,” Mullin said at his confirmation hearing.
The White House has defended Mullin. Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said “the president has confidence in Secretary Mullin and his entire Administration to carry out the agenda the American people voted for,” and a DHS spokesperson pointed to record-level deportation and arrest numbers under Mullin’s leadership. However, MAGA activists argue those statistics do not satisfy their demand for even more aggressive enforcement.
Mike Howell, a former DHS attorney who now leads the Mass Deportation Coalition, said Mullin “certainly hasn’t given any hope to the true believers that the numbers will go up.” Bannon suggested that MAGA wants Trump to appoint controversial interim Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte as DHS secretary instead.
Mullin’s struggles highlight the challenge of balancing institutional concerns at DHS with the MAGA base’s demands for maximum immigration enforcement. His attempts to repair the agency’s image and suggest workable immigration policies have been interpreted by Trump’s hardline supporters as weakness, putting his tenure in question despite the White House’s public backing.
Sources
- Forbes — Mullin’s comments on permanent work visas, MAGA figures’ criticism including Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer, Mullin’s defense of his ICE nominee.
- Axios — Lance Schroyer’s lack of federal immigration experience, Tom Homan’s opposition to Schroyer’s nomination, Mullin’s support for ICE vehicle stop pause and Trump’s reversal, Mullin’s comments about TPS for Haitians.
- The Hill — Mullin’s remarks to governors about immigration cooperation and working with Democratic states.
- Native News Online — Initial reporting on MAGA backlash over immigration comments.
- New York Post — Steve Bannon’s comments on Mullin being a “problem from the beginning” and need for immigration action.
- DHS Official Statement — Confirmation of Mullin as 9th Secretary of DHS on March 24, 2026.
- NBC News — Trump’s firing of Kristi Noem and appointment of Mullin as replacement.
