Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that deportations will continue in a post on social media on Wednesday, The Hill reports. This declaration arrived right after the Democratic Party secured victories in the 2026 midterm elections, gaining control of both the House and the Senate.
The agency is clearly bracing for a shift in power. Democrats centered much of their campaign platform on opposing the immigration crackdown initiated by President Trump. Some candidates even went as far as using the call to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a slogan while on the campaign trail.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced a bill last month known as the Reimagining Safety Act. Her proposal aims to overhaul immigration agencies entirely, including replacing the Department of Homeland Security with a community-centered department. Ramirez has been a vocal critic of the current system, claiming that the deaths of people detained by ICE and Customs and Border Protection, along with the deaths of those deported by the U.S., are the reason DHS must be dismantled and something new must take its place.
This pushback from the Democratic side is not new
Mullin has spent significant time defending the agency against these criticisms. He notably clapped back at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after she warned that ICE officers could try to intimidate voters at the polls. Mullin questioned why she was still relevant in response to those comments.
He also spoke with Fox News host Will Cain before polling closed on Tuesday to address concerns regarding the presence of agents. Mullin told Will Cain, “Even in my confirmation hearing, this was brought up, and I made it very clear that ICE agents aren’t going to be around polling places unless there’s a threat.”
Public opinion on this matter seems split. A New York Times/Siena poll conducted ahead of the midterms found that 52 percent of likely voters backed Democrats on handling immigration over Republicans. Meanwhile, 45 percent of those surveyed backed the GOP. This divide likely sets the stage for a tense period of governance.
Democrats are now planning to use their new power in Congress to restrain ICE. They have discussed options like withholding future funding and using their authority to conduct oversight on the agency. It seems they are ready to test the limits of their legislative reach.
However, they will likely face heavy resistance from Republican lawmakers. Any attempts made at the legislative level could also face a presidential veto. President Trump pledged this week to become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats regained control of Congress.
Published: Nov 5, 2026 07:15 pm