Mullin Defends ICE Operations Against GOP Deportation Concerns

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin pushed back Friday against a Republican congresswoman's claim that ICE has detained too many people with no criminal records.

• 50% of 5,000 people detained in July had no criminal record, Salazar said.
• Salazar represents a majority-Hispanic district in Florida and is a Republican.
• Mullin denied any White House quota drives arrest numbers.
• Mullin argued illegal border crossing itself constitutes a criminal act.

Why it matters: The exchange matters because a member of the president's own party is publicly challenging the enforcement approach, citing the administration's own FOIA'd data.

• Salazar said Hispanic voters who supported the president in 2024 feel betrayed by current enforcement.

How 4 sources split on this story

Where they split: The core dispute is whether a person who crossed the border illegally counts as a criminal for enforcement purposes — Mullin says yes; Salazar's framing implies non-violent immigration violations should be treated differently.

What’s next: Salazar's ad keeps the intra-party tension on the record ahead of upcoming congressional sessions.

• What are the full FOIA'd numbers behind Salazar's 50% claim, and do they reflect a broader or narrower enforcement period?
• Will other Republican lawmakers representing heavily Hispanic districts follow Salazar's public break with the administration?