DHS Secretary: No amnesty in post-election immigration talks

Markwayne Mullin, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, stated on Monday that no amnesty will be granted to people with undefined immigration status in the United States. He made the remarks while speaking with journalists near Washington, D.C., following a conference on drone technology. Mullin described the rejection of amnesty as a firm stance for the administration, though he noted that the White House has not yet settled on specific policy changes since the midterm elections.

The midterm election results demonstrated voter dissatisfaction with the administration's aggressive deportation strategies. In a Sunday interview with 60 Minutes, President Donald Trump suggested that his approach to deportations may have been too forceful for the electorate. He indicated a willingness to work with Democrats on immigration issues. Mullin reiterated this openness on Monday, confirming that the President has agreed to engage with Democratic counterparts.

Mullin, a former senator and representative, said he has received calls from Democrats with whom he previously collaborated on bipartisan legislation in Congress. He informed the President that these communications are occurring. According to Mullin, the President instructed him to begin working with these lawmakers and to schedule a meeting at a later date. The Secretary clarified that discussions so far have not been exclusively focused on immigration policy.

The administration's posture toward bipartisan cooperation has raised questions after Trump elevated Stephen Miller to the role of White House chief of staff. Miller is widely regarded as the primary architect of the administration's strict immigration enforcement measures. Mullin publicly supported the decision on social media on November 6, calling it an excellent choice. He also praised his predecessor as chief of staff, Susie Wiles, for her leadership and work ethic.

During his remarks, Mullin emphasized that a bipartisan approach is the only viable path for passing immigration reform. He cited his own experience working on immigration legislation in both the House and the Senate. Despite this support for collaboration, he maintained a rigid line against amnesty. He stated that amnesty will never be a solution and that the administration will not allow it to happen, effectively closing that topic of debate for the executive branch.

Mullin addressed the specific issue of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. This initiative provides protection from deportation for individuals brought to the country illegally as children by their parents. Mullin indicated that determining how to legalize the status of these individuals, potentially through permanent residency, would be the responsibility of Congress. He suggested that if bipartisan reform is achieved, Congress would analyze DACA and find a way to transition these individuals to legal resident status.

The Secretary spoke at the margins of a conference focused on drones and anti-drone technologies in the Washington suburbs. His comments come as the administration attempts to balance its enforcement record with a new legislative strategy. The lack of a formal amnesty plan keeps the pressure on Congress to craft a comprehensive immigration bill that addresses both border security and the status of millions of residents.