DHS Chief: No Immigration Amnesty, But Talks Will Begin
Markwayne Mullin tells reporters that President Trump is ready to work with Democrats on border policy but insists that a blanket amnesty remains off the table.
By Renata Mehta ·
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters on Monday that he firmly opposes any form of immigration amnesty for residents living in the United States with indefinite status. Speaking near Washington, D.C., Mullin described the policy as a red line for the Republican Party. He stated that the administration will not allow an amnesty to occur, effectively closing that specific debate while leaving the door open for other legislative changes.
The Secretary clarified the current state of discussions within the executive branch regarding post-election policy shifts. Mullin noted that he has informed President Donald Trump that former Democratic colleagues have been calling him since the midterms. According to Mullin, the President has instructed the team to start working with those lawmakers and schedule a meeting at a later date. Mullin emphasized that no formal conversation has taken place solely on immigration policy yet. He described the current engagement as the full scope of the internal dialogue.
Mullin highlighted the practical necessity of bipartisan cooperation to pass meaningful immigration reform. He referenced his own legislative history, noting that he worked on immigration issues in both the House and the Senate. He argued that a bipartisan approach is the only viable method to achieve a durable solution. Despite this openness to collaboration, Mullin maintained a strict boundary regarding the final outcome, stating that amnesty would never be part of the package. He declared that the topic of amnesty is finished for his department.
The context for these remarks follows the recent midterm elections, where voter sentiment appeared to push back against aggressive deportation measures. President Trump told 60 Minutes on Sunday that his deportation policy may have been too aggressive for the electorate. He expressed a willingness to work with Democrats on the issue. The administration has also made structural changes to support this potential shift. Trump recently elevated Stephen Miller, the primary architect of the current immigration strategy, to the role of White House chief of staff. Mullin called that appointment an excellent decision on social media on November 6, 2026.
Mullin addressed the specific case of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA. He indicated that determining how to legalize the status of individuals under this program is a task for Congress. He suggested that lawmakers might find a way to transition these individuals into lawful permanent residents or a similar status. He stressed that such a determination belongs in the legislative branch rather than the executive. Mullin made these comments at the edge of a conference focused on drone and counter-drone technologies in the Washington suburbs.
The Secretary’s remarks aim to balance the administration’s previous hardline stance with the new political reality created by the election results. He pointed to his past bipartisan work as evidence that cooperation is possible without conceding core principles. The administration now faces the challenge of negotiating with Democrats who previously opposed the administration's initial policies. Mullin’s position sets the terms for those upcoming negotiations, prioritizing a legislative path over executive action for long-term status changes.
