Mullin Defends Trump Immigration Policy After Salazar's Ad

Markwayne Mullin, the first Native American to serve as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, defended the Trump administration’s immigration policy on Friday after Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar—who has received Trump’s endorsement—publicly said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has “gone too far” by detaining people without criminal records. Salazar’s remarks came in the context of a new campaign advertisement for her Senate bid in Florida, in which she highlighted her willingness to break from Trump on certain immigration issues while still maintaining his endorsement.

Mullin reiterated that the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement is aimed at protecting U.S. borders and public safety, arguing that ICE’s actions are consistent with the law and the broader national security strategy. He emphasized that the agency’s detentions target individuals who pose a threat or who are suspected of serious crimes, not those without any criminal history. Salazar, meanwhile, criticized ICE for overreach and called for reforms that would reduce detentions of non‑criminal migrants, positioning herself as a more moderate voice within the GOP.

The exchange underscores growing divisions among Republican lawmakers over immigration policy. While Mullin continues to support the Trump‑era framework, Salazar’s campaign ad signals a willingness to diverge from the former president’s hard‑line stance, reflecting a broader debate within the party about the balance between enforcement and humanitarian considerations.