The Oklahoma Republican’s record on border security and immigration enforcement has drawn bipartisan interest as he prepares to assume leadership of the Department of Homeland Security.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma will become the next leader of the Department of Homeland Security, following the decision to remove Secretary Kristi Noem after weeks of controversy surrounding immigration enforcement operations and congressional scrutiny.
Trump confirmed the leadership change in a public announcement reported by the Daily Caller, stating Mullin would assume the position by the end of the month. The decision follows mounting political pressure on Noem that intensified after immigration agents fatally shot two Americans during enforcement actions in Minneapolis and after she faced two days of intense questioning from lawmakers during congressional hearings.
Analysis of Mullin’s legislative history suggests he has generally supported strict border enforcement policies throughout his time in Congress. A review published by the Daily Caller News Foundation notes that although he has not been the lead sponsor of major immigration legislation, the Oklahoma Republican has consistently backed measures intended to strengthen border security.
Several Democratic senators have expressed support for Mullin’s nomination, signaling the possibility of bipartisan backing when the confirmation process begins. According to reporting by the Daily Caller, Vermont Sen. Peter Welch described Mullin as “competent and honest,” while Pennsylvania Sen. Jon Fetterman has already said he intends to vote in favor of confirming him.
The bipartisan response comes at a moment when immigration enforcement policies are under increased political scrutiny. Public sentiment has shifted in recent months, with polling conducted by YouGov showing growing support among some Americans for eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Immigration policy advocates who favor stricter enforcement have largely welcomed the president’s selection.
Jeremy Beck, co-president of the Washington-based immigration policy organization NumbersUSA, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Mullin has frequently supported legislation aimed at strengthening enforcement efforts.
“He’s been a reliable vote and not infrequent co-sponsor for bills that strengthen our enforcement system, both at the border and in the interior of the United States,” Beck said.
Beck specifically cited Mullin’s support for the border enforcement legislation known as H.R. 2, which proponents argue would have helped curb illegal border crossings during what some lawmakers described as an unprecedented surge in migrant encounters under the Biden administration, documented in reporting by the Daily Caller.
“Our hope is that he continues to understand that Congress has a role to play here and beyond that, to continue to be diligent, to protect the enforcement agencies and the men and women who are in there,” Beck said. “And at the same time, re-establish some of the credibility with the public that’s taken a hit in recent months.”
Inside the administration, officials have suggested that the leadership shift at DHS was expected.
“The Department needed a leader who executed the president’s agenda, not their own,” a senior administration official told the Daily Caller News Foundation on condition of anonymity. “This leadership change is long overdue and brings real relief to a hell of a lot of people at DHS.”
“She had it coming — and she blew every opportunity to correct course,” the official continued. “It wasn’t a question of if. It was only a matter of when.”
Mullin first entered federal office in 2012 after winning election to represent Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District, according to reporting from Tulsa World. He served in the House for ten years before winning a 2022 special election to fill the Senate seat previously held by the late Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe.
During Trump’s first administration, Mullin publicly supported the deployment of military resources to reinforce border security, stating his backing in a message posted on X. He also supported construction of additional physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, which he emphasized in another statement shared on X.
The senator later became an outspoken critic of immigration policies pursued during the Biden administration. When the administration prepared to end the pandemic-era border policy known as Title 42, Mullin issued a warning about the potential consequences.
“Joe Biden’s decision to end [Title 42]is reckless and unforgivable,” Mullin wrote in an April 2022 message on X. “Eliminating what little security measures we had in place without a plan will put American lives in jeopardy. Once Title 42 expires, Joe Biden will have even more blood on his hands.”
During the current congressional session, Mullin voted for legislation aimed at increasing funding for immigration enforcement operations and limiting certain immigration relief programs, including provisions contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill and the Laken Riley Act.
The Immigration Accountability Project also pointed to his support for several additional measures related to enforcement, including the SAVE America Act, ICE Protection Act and the SAVE Act, according to its legislative monitoring page highlighting his voting record.
Some immigration advocacy groups have noted areas where Mullin has not aligned with their priorities. The NumbersUSA legislative scorecard evaluating his record indicates that he did not co-sponsor certain bills designed to reduce family-based immigration categories, require nationwide E-Verify employment verification, or limit the number of foreign workers entering the U.S. labor market.
Mullin has also publicly commented on a fatal enforcement incident earlier this year in Minneapolis, where ICE agents shot and killed Renee Good during an encounter in January.
Speaking with News Nation in remarks reported by The Oklahoman, Mullin defended the actions of the immigration agent involved.
“At the same time, we don’t know what she has in that vehicle,” Mullin said. “We don’t know if she has weapons. We don’t know what the situation is, but she clearly pulled in front of the ICE agents to block their path.”
Authorities later reported that the agent suffered internal bleeding after being struck by the vehicle driven by Good, according to reporting by the Daily Caller.
Mullin’s selection has also been welcomed by several immigration enforcement advocacy groups. The Federation for American Immigration Reform issued a statement congratulating the senator, while the newly formed Mass Deportation Coalition publicly encouraged him to review its proposed plan to remove one million illegal immigrants from the country, as outlined in reporting by the Daily Caller and promoted in a message shared on X.
The leadership change follows a turbulent period for the Department of Homeland Security under Noem. The controversy began during Operation Metro Surge, a joint immigration enforcement initiative conducted in Minneapolis where confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators escalated. Two Americans — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — died during the operation, according to reporting by the Daily Caller.
The incident fueled political backlash and prompted congressional scrutiny, with lawmakers questioning DHS officials about operational procedures and oversight.
Noem was also questioned about personal matters during her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Judiciary Committee, including reports of an alleged relationship with senior advisor Corey Lewandowski. Coverage of the allegations appeared in reporting by the Daily Caller, while Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich reported on X that Lewandowski was expected to leave DHS alongside the secretary.
Tensions between the White House and DHS leadership escalated further when Noem told lawmakers that Trump personally approved a $220 million department advertising campaign. Trump later publicly disputed that claim, according to reporting from the Daily Caller.
Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy later told reporters that the president was “mad as a murder hornet” following Noem’s testimony, remarks reported in coverage from Lufkin Daily News.
The administration said Noem will transition to a diplomatic role as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a regional initiative focused on Western Hemisphere cooperation on security and policy matters, according to an announcement referenced by the Department of Homeland Security and reported according.
Mullin, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation and previously competed as a mixed martial arts fighter before entering politics, is expected to begin leading the Department of Homeland Security on March 31.
“President Trump ran on restoring law and order, and he quickly delivered the most secure U.S. border in American history,” Mullin said in a statement posted on X. “I look forward to supporting [Trump’s] mission to safeguard the American people and defend the homeland.”
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