Chicago – March 18, 2026
President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security has pledged a “better approach” to immigration enforcement, promising to maintain tough policies while moderating some of the most controversial tactics.
Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, outlined his vision during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday as he seeks to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Mullin reiterated his support for Trump’s hard‑line immigration agenda, including stepped‑up arrests of people in the country without authorization, but signaled a shift toward more targeted enforcement. He vowed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents would generally obtain judicial warrants before entering homes, except when chasing a suspect in real time, in an effort to ease concerns over aggressive raids.
Mullin also floated transforming ICE into more of a “transport” agency focused on moving detainees from jails, while pledging to work with leaders of sanctuary cities instead of cutting their federal funds—a notable departure from Noem’s confrontational style.
His confirmation still requires Senate approval amid ongoing debate over the scale and methods of Trump’s mass‑deportation push.
