Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin clashed with CNN anchor Dana Bash on Friday during a live interview over whether half of all ICE detainees lack a criminal record. Mullin rejected the premise outright, arguing that crossing the border illegally is itself a criminal act.
The exchange was triggered by comments from Republican Rep. Maria Salazar of Florida, who released a campaign-style ad accusing the Trump administration of overreaching on immigration enforcement. Salazar cited figures obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, claiming that “50 percent of the 50,000 people that were detained had no criminal record.”
Bash tried her best, but ultimately eats crow after Mullin’s response.
Bash Presses Mullin on ICE Detainee Numbers
Bash used Salazar’s figures to challenge Mullin directly. “She is citing numbers that were FOIAed,” Bash said, “and in July, 50% of the 50,000 people detained had no criminal record. You are totally comfortable with that, and you will continue on that?”
Mullin did not concede the point. “That’s actually not true,” he replied. “Every one of them was criminals because they broke our nation’s laws when they came across our borders illegally.” As the Mullin and Bash immigration interview showed, Bash pressed for a more detailed answer, asking what level of criminal activity the administration requires before acting.
Mullin’s Argument: Illegal Entry Is the Crime
Mullin held his position through repeated interruptions, drawing a clear line between his department’s mandate and congressional policymaking. “We are tasked with enforcing the nation’s laws. I can’t repeat this enough. I don’t pick and choose,” he said.
He added that the 80,000 personnel across DHS law enforcement agencies operate under the same standard. “Congress is the one who set those laws. We are enforcing them. When you broke the law, when you came in this country illegally, you chose to become a criminal at that point. Regardless if you consider a criminal being a pedophile or not, a criminal is a criminal,” Mullin continued.
What Comes Next for the Immigration Debate
Salazar’s ad has given Democrats and some media outlets a Republican voice to cite in criticizing the administration’s deportation policies. She also claimed in the ad that “the same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today,” and told the President directly that “some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far.”
The dispute signals that immigration enforcement will remain a flashpoint both within the Republican Party and between the administration and press. Mullin showed no sign of softening the department’s approach, framing mass deportation not as a policy choice but as a legal obligation his agency is bound to carry out.
