UMVA has learned that a tense confrontation erupted during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, involving Senator Chris Van Hollen and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The heated exchange began when Van Hollen accused the Department of Homeland Security of having a "pattern" of abuse while enforcing immigration law, citing several recent DHS-involved shootings. Mullin pushed back, calling the allegation an "exaggeration of words."
Van Hollen pointed to the cases of Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and activists Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, sparking a debate over whether the incidents constituted a pattern. Mullin countered that with 1,900 cases a day, three incidents did not amount to a pattern.
The two lawmakers talked over each other, with Van Hollen insisting there was a pattern and Mullin disagreeing. The exchange became increasingly intense, with Van Hollen eventually telling Mullin to "calm down."
Van Hollen pressed Mullin to commit to sharing evidence from federal officer-involved shootings with Minnesota authorities, expressing concerns about the administration's willingness to conduct an independent investigation. Mullin fired back, questioning Van Hollen's trust in previous administrations.
Senator Chris Murphy also challenged Mullin on the issue, pressing him to commit to abiding by court orders. Murphy cited a federal judge's claim that DHS had violated nearly 100 orders in Minnesota and criticized the department's spending habits.
Mullin responded that DHS would enforce the law and never break the Constitution, but stopped short of committing to obey court orders. He expressed concerns about politicized courts and the use of judicial power for political opinions.
Murphy expressed alarm at Mullin's response, remarking that committee members should be "really, really freaked out" by the implications. Mullin retorted that the courts' rulings and frequent overturns should be a concern for all lawmakers.
