DHS budget hearing: Senate to question Markwayne Mullin on immigration enforcement and World Cup plans

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is set to face Senate questions on Tuesday about the department’s budget. The appearance comes as the Trump administration faces close attention over immigration enforcement and World Cup security planning. Lawmakers are also weighing how to fund key immigration agencies without relying on Democratic votes, as talks remain tense.

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Mullin is scheduled to testify before the appropriations subcommittee on homeland security. It will be the first Senate appearance since the March confirmation hearing. Mullin is also due to speak in the House on Wednesday about the budget request. The hearings arrive during renewed debate over staffing, airport operations, and policy changes affecting migrants.

Immigration enforcement funding plan and Senate scrutiny

The Senate is considering legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. The approach is designed to avoid needing Democratic support. Democrats have said restraints must come before any agreement to fund the agencies. However, the long-term funding push has stalled due to a separate dispute among Republicans.

That stall is tied to Republican opposition over a $1.776 billion settlement fund. The fund would compensate Trump allies who believe they have been politically prosecuted. The disagreement has slowed the wider attempt to lock in multi-year support for two immigration agencies. The fight is now part of the backdrop for Mullin’s Senate questioning.

World Cup security planning and CBP officers at airports

Mullin has also unsettled parts of the travel industry with warnings about airport staffing. Mullin has threatened to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called sanctuary cities. Critics say the move could disrupt international travel. The concern is sharper as millions of visitors prepare to travel to the US for the World Cup.

During a news conference in Dallas on Monday, Mullin described a possible reallocation plan. Mullin said CBP officers could be moved from airports if security needs grew at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey. Protesters have gathered there in recent days over conditions inside the centre. Mullin said New Jersey is handling security for now.

"As long as we continue to have this partnership with local and state law enforcement then there will be no need to do so,\" Mullin told reporters during a news conference in Dallas Monday, in response to questions about whether he would be pulling CBP officers from airports.

Local steps in New Jersey have reduced pressure on federal staff at Delaney Hall. New Jersey state police on Friday replaced federal immigration enforcement agents who had faced protesters for days. The mayor of Newark also set a curfew around the facility on Sunday. Officials have not said whether further restrictions will be added.

Green card policy shift and USCIS confusion for applicants

Mullin is also likely to face questions about a recent USCIS announcement on green card applications. The agency now demands that most green card seekers apply for permanent residency from their home country. The change reverses a long-standing approach that allowed many to apply from within the US. Immigration lawyers say the shift has caused confusion for clients.

Trump chose Mullin to lead Homeland Security after Kristi Noem was fired from the role. Mullin has presented a steadier posture at a department that faced instability during Noem’s tenure. Senate and House budget hearings now place those claims under fresh review. The sessions are expected to focus on funding, enforcement tactics, and operational risks.

With inputs from PTI