DHS Secretary Mullin Rejects Jayapal’s Claims on Immigration Arrest Threats
DHS Secretary Mullin disputes Rep. Jayapal’s claim that most immigration arrests pose no public safety threat.
United States Senate/Wikimedia Commons
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin strongly refuted recent comments by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., asserting that the majority of immigration arrests by DHS do not threaten public safety. Speaking on September 19, 2026, Mullin emphasized the department’s continued focus on apprehending high-risk individuals and underscored the dangers posed by illegal immigration to American communities.
DHS Focuses on High-Risk Immigration Enforcement
Secretary Mullin dismissed Jayapal’s statements from a congressional hearing last week, where she claimed that for the first time this summer, most people arrested by DHS posed “absolutely no threat to public safety,” and that arrests of those with criminal convictions have decreased. Mullin countered that DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) remain committed to prioritizing enforcement actions against individuals who pose serious threats, including those convicted of violent crimes and terrorism-related offenses.
“If we’re going to have national security in this country, we need to know everyone who enters,” Mullin said during an interview on the program Saturday in America. “When someone crosses into this country illegally, they’re breaking the law and we’re going to hold them accountable.”
Political Divide Over Immigration Enforcement
The dispute highlights a broader political divide over immigration policy. Rep. Jayapal, ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, has been a vocal critic of ICE and the Trump administration’s immigration tactics. She argued that enforcement efforts under President Donald Trump’s second term have increasingly targeted immigrants without criminal records, diverting resources from investigating serious crimes like human trafficking.
Jayapal said, “When DHS expends all its energy on street sweeps and random traffic stops instead of focusing on serious crime, we become less safe, not more safe.” She called for a shift in enforcement priorities to focus on dangerous offenders rather than families and longtime community members.
Mullin Cites Public Safety Risks and Angel Families
In response, Secretary Mullin pointed to cases where crimes committed by illegal immigrants have led to tragic outcomes. He referenced “angel families” who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally and described these incidents as preventable if immigration laws were enforced strictly.
“All the angel families that lost their loved ones at the hands of an illegal is 100% preventable because that illegal shouldn’t be in our country to begin with,” Mullin said. He stressed that crossing the border without authorization is itself a criminal act and that DHS will continue to arrest those violating immigration laws.
Record Immigration Arrests and Enforcement Data
DHS data shows that ICE arrested nearly 51,000 illegal immigrants nationwide in August 2026, marking the highest monthly total in the agency’s history. The department also reports deporting more than 2,000 known or suspected terrorists since President Trump’s second term began in January 2025.
Mullin argued that these numbers demonstrate the administration’s commitment to strict immigration enforcement. He rejected claims that arrests were politically motivated or indiscriminate, saying, “It’s political for them. They want to say this every day.”
At the same time, Jayapal’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment following Mullin’s remarks.
As immigration enforcement remains a contentious issue in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections, the debate between DHS leadership and congressional critics like Jayapal underscores the continuing challenge of balancing border security, public safety, and humanitarian concerns.
