March 24, 2026 – On Monday, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff Voted against Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security and released the following statements.
Senator Alex Padilla Statement Opposing Confirmation of Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Homeland Security
March 24, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the 
Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after voting against Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-Okla.) confirmation to serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“I cannot in good conscience support Senator Mullin to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security. Over the past year, we have witnessed a lawless ICE and CBP — agencies that have operated without accountability or restraint. It’s one thing to change the name at the top of the agency; it’s another thing to change the agency’s practices and policies.
“We need more than just an openness and a willingness to talk — we need real change. We need reform. And we need leaders who will push back against Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s cruel and destructive mass deportation agenda.”
Earlier this month, Padilla issued a statement after President Trump announced that he would fire DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and nominate Senator Mullin to replace her.
Source: Senator Alex Padilla
Senator Adam Schiff to Oppose Mullin Nomination for Homeland Security Secretary
March 24, 2026 - Washington, D.C. – On Monday, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) issued the following statement announcing that he will oppose Senator Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
“For the past year, we have seen the horrors of Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. Indiscriminate raids targeting families, small business owners, and students who are part of the fabric of our communities. The arrest of citizens and noncitizens alike, grabbing people off the street because of how they look, the language they speak, or where they work. Families afraid to send their children to school, afraid to worship, afraid to work. Armed federal immigration officers inciting chaos and using excessive violence, taking the innocent lives of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. All with next to no accountability.
“Despite the vast majority of Americans disapproving of this agenda and these enforcement actions, nothing appears to have changed at the department. And I have no confidence that Senator Mullin will demonstrate the independence necessary from Trump and Stephen Miller to lead the department in a necessary, different direction.
“Not only am I skeptical of Senator Mullin’s willingness to rein in ICE and CBP’s rampant abuses, I’m also equally concerned by his opposition to the certification of the 2020 election. His refusal to certify the electors on January 6th raises a serious question about whether he will protect our elections from threats, respect the will of the American people, stand up to the president and follow the law.
“As I have repeatedly said, the Department of Homeland Security must be rebuilt from the ground up with badly needed reforms to ICE and CBP, and I do not have confidence Senator Mullin is the person to do it.
“For those reasons, I will vote to oppose Senator Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security.”
Source: Senator Adam Schiff
