DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin is facing mounting calls for his resignation from prominent conservative figures after comments he made over the weekend were widely interpreted as a concession on immigration enforcement.
The criticism escalated on Monday as opposition to Mullin extended into the Trump administration itself, with a senior official telling a news outlet that unifying the administration around a single position on immigration has proven difficult.
The latest backlash was triggered on Saturday when Mullin spoke at the National Governors Association Summer Meeting in Oklahoma City, where he drew a distinction between undocumented immigrants pursuing legal status and those who remain in the country illegally.
Mullin stated that the United States needs more permanent solutions for work visas, arguing that the belief immigration steals American jobs is accurate in certain industries but not across the board.
His remarks prompted sharp reactions from a range of conservative voices who accused him of prioritizing appeal to Democratic critics over delivering on the immigration agenda championed by President Donald Trump during his campaign.
Mullin attempted to address the backlash later Saturday by posting a statement on X reaffirming his stance against amnesty, writing that there would be no amnesty for undocumented immigrants and that anyone illegally present in the country would be detained and deported.
Despite the clarification, the statement failed to satisfy many of his critics, including former Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, who took issue with Mullin highlighting nearly 900,000 naturalizations over a 12-month period without addressing the broader political consequences of the administration's deportation record.
Several influential figures in conservative media and politics called for Mullin's replacement, with some naming Stephen Miller as a preferred candidate to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Others accused Mullin of encouraging Haitian migrants and individuals with Temporary Protected Status to seek permanent residency in the United States rather than pursuing legal status through proper channels in their home countries.
The growing revolt signals a deepening rift within the administration over how aggressively to pursue immigration enforcement and whether Mullin's approach aligns with the expectations of the Republican base ahead of the midterm elections.
