Behind-the-scenes strain has reportedly emerged between Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and the White House, according to sources who spoke exclusively with NBC News. The reported discord, published Thursday by journalists Julia Ainsley and Gabe Gutierrez, draws on conversations with a senior administration official and a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, both of whom requested anonymity to discuss internal matters. This alleged friction surfaces just four months into Secretary Mullin's tenure leading the department, one of the federal government's most scrutinized agencies, particularly amid President Donald Trump's broader immigration enforcement agenda.
"Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Mullin, the border is totally secure, dangerous illegal immigrants are being deported, and Americans are safer." — Abigail Jackson, White House Spokeswoman
The earliest reported flashpoint involved a vehicle stop controversy within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following fatal shootings involving ICE agents in Texas and Maine, Secretary Mullin reportedly ordered a nationwide pause on ICE's vehicle stop procedures. This directive, however, was short-lived. President Donald Trump personally reversed Mullin’s pause, swiftly restoring the original policy after learning the decision had bypassed standard White House review processes. An administration source underscored the unwritten rule governing Cabinet-level decisions, stating, "Every Cabinet secretary knows that they have to come to the White House for major policy decisions." The same source further suggested the President maintains a close watch on Cabinet activity, noting, "The president sees, hears, reads everything." This rapid reversal by President Trump signaled the administration's intent to maintain uninterrupted enforcement operations.
Weeks later, a televised misstatement by Secretary Mullin reportedly compounded the tension. During an appearance on CNN, Mullin misspoke while discussing a Supreme Court ruling related to legal protections for immigrants from Haiti and Syria. Mullin indicated that hundreds of thousands of individuals from these two countries would become eligible to apply for legal status. However, the ruling in question did not actually extend such an opportunity, according to the NBC News report. Officials within the administration reportedly found the on-air error frustrating, though the report did not detail any formal repercussions from the incident. Such public misstatements from a Cabinet secretary on critical policy matters can create confusion and undermine the administration's messaging.
Secretary Mullin’s judgment reportedly faced additional scrutiny over a personnel matter concerning the nomination for ICE director. Mullin has backed Lance Schroyer, a longtime associate, for the crucial role. Schroyer's background includes service as an incident commander with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. However, questions have reportedly circulated within the administration regarding whether this experience adequately prepares him to lead an agency with the significant size and scope of ICE. Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, is reportedly among the skeptics concerning Schroyer’s nomination. An administration official bluntly stated, "Homan and others aren’t particularly thrilled with him." The reported resistance from high-profile figures like Homan introduces uncertainty into a nomination process that had not previously garnered public controversy.
In response to the report's claims, the White House pushed back against any suggestion of a rift. White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a formal statement asserting that President Trump and Secretary Mullin remain in lockstep on immigration policy. Jackson affirmed, "Secretary Mullin is working hard to implement the President’s immigration enforcement agenda." She pointed to enforcement outcomes as evidence of the partnership’s success, stating, "Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Mullin, the border is totally secure, dangerous illegal immigrants are being deported, and Americans are safer." Jackson reaffirmed the secretary’s ongoing role, concluding, "Secretary Mullin will continue to enforce federal immigration law as effectively as possible."
Secretary Mullin took the DHS post earlier this year, inheriting oversight of an agency at the forefront of the administration's efforts to secure the nation's borders and enforce immigration laws. The enforcement actions of ICE have consistently drawn significant public attention and debate. Neither Secretary Mullin nor the Department of Homeland Security has issued an independent response directly addressing the specific claims raised in the NBC News report, leaving Jackson’s statement as the administration’s only on-record reaction. The path to confirmation for Lance Schroyer as ICE director remains unresolved, with no timeline for the nomination appearing in the original report.
