Mullin claims that under his leadership ICE is fulfilling President Trump's promise to Make America Safe Again

August 4, 2026 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin responded to critics by releasing a statement claiming that under his leadership, "Immigration and Customs Enforcement is turning up the heat on criminal illegal aliens to fulfill President Donald Trump's promise to make America safe again."

"With more than a month of summer left, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is turning up the heat on criminal illegal aliens to fulfill President Donald Trump's promise to make America safe again – and they are succeeding," Mullins said in a release. "Evidence of that effort is the Department of Homeland Security's recent announcement that under President Trump, crime rates have fallen to the lowest level in 126 years. Successes include:

• Homicides are down 18% - on pace for the lowest level in at least 126 years.

• Carjackings are down 47%.

• Motor vehicle thefts are down 20%.

• Robberies are down 17%.

• Residential burglaries are down 13%.

The last time the American people were equally as safe was in 1900 when the U.S. population was 76.2 million, the average yearly income was between $400 - $500, and a trip across the Atlantic Ocean took about seven days."

Mullins said ICE has one reason for that success.

IT "has been the Department's laser-focused mission to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens across the nation," the release claimed. "Last week, the Department added 5,000 more names to its Worst of the Worst website – established in December 2025 to give Americans the assurance that regardless of pushbacks and challenges, the men and women of ICE will continue to hunt down heinous criminals to keep American communities safe. Among those ICE has arrested and deported are cartel leaders, gang members, and even celebrities – consistent with the Department's longstanding position that no one is above the law."

In the last week:

ICE arrested former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Ogama Adongo who overstayed his visa when it expired in 2016. Adongo is a Kenyan national who was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge. Despite his athletic success, Adongo has been arrested multiple times by Indiana law enforcement over the last nine years on charges including felony intimidation, battery and disorderly conduct.

ICE arrested Roberts Nemiro, a criminal illegal alien from Latvia. During his time in this country, he has been convicted for aggravated assault of non-family with a gun and disorderly conduct, He has also been arrested for battery, sexual battery, possession of controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia.

ICE also arrested more than 900 criminals and rescued 180 victims in anti-trafficking operations during the World Cup.

Mullin is facing criticism from conservatives who were not happy with comments he made during an immigration speech in Oklahoma City to the National Governors Association Summer Meeting, where he voiced support for immigration reform and said that there is a difference between immigrants who are pursuing legal status and those who are not. He also voiced concerns about labor shortages in some industries and called for changes to some employment visa programs.

"If we're looking to grow our economy, we need more permanent solutions on [work visas], because this narrative that it steals American jobs is true in some industries – it's not true for all industries," Mullin said.

Former Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino said in response on X, "Every time I look up, I see a new terrible answer or thought coming out of Mark Mullin's mouth in this interview. He proudly announces nearly 900,000 naturalizations in 12 months (95% third world immigrants), then lectures us about the legal process. He celebrates your replacement as long as it's done legally, without mentioning that 80% of legal immigrants will vote Democrat. This is the man running our Department of Homeland Security. And we wonder why we're going to lose the midterms?"

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