Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has laid down a firm condition for any immigration agreement with Democrats: no amnesty for illegal immigrants. The declaration comes after former President Donald Trump hinted at a possible compromise during a recent interview, sparking backlash from immigration hardliners.
Trump’s Shift Sparks Conservative Backlash
During a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday, Trump suggested he might support granting legal status to certain undocumented immigrants who are employed and paying taxes. “I would love to make a deal with Democrats on immigration,” Trump said, marking a notable departure from his administration’s aggressive deportation policies.
Mullin, however, was quick to clarify the administration’s stance. Speaking at a counter-drone conference in Maryland, he emphasized that while enforcement priorities remain unchanged, there could be room to negotiate protections for DACA recipients. “We’re never going to allow amnesty to happen,” Mullin told reporters. “But if we want to look at DACA and figure out a way for these individuals to become legal permanent citizens, that’ll be up to Congress.”
Mixed Signals from the White House
The White House has pushed back against claims that Trump is softening his stance, with the Rapid Response team on X denying any suggestion of an “amnesty deal.” Still, Trump’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from immigration hawks who view any compromise as a betrayal of his base.
Political consultant Ryan Gidursky warned that scaling back deportations would “kill the party,” while Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren reacted with disbelief. Josh Hammer of the Article III Project accused Trump of misreading the election results.
Negotiations on the Horizon?
Mullin revealed that several Democrats have reached out about potential collaboration, though he stressed that no policy changes have been discussed with Trump. “The president has said, ‘Let’s start working with them and then let’s meet at some point,'” Mullin said.
As the debate over immigration reform heats up, the administration’s red lines—and Trump’s willingness to cross them—could determine whether a deal is possible or if the GOP’s internal divisions will deepen.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/mullin-reveals-his-red-line-for-an-immigration-deal-with-dems