# DHS Chief Rejects Jayapal's Immigration Threat Claim

> DHS chief Markwayne Mullin dismisses Rep. Jayapal's claim that most immigration arrests pose no threat.
- Title: DHS Chief Rejects Jayapal's Immigration Threat Claim
- Summary: DHS chief Markwayne Mullin dismisses Rep. Jayapal's claim that most immigration arrests pose no threat. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin rejects…
- Keywords: markwayne mullin, pramila jayapal, dhs, ice, homeland security, immigration arrests, border enforcement, news, politics, Chief, Rejects, Jayapal's
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/media/dhs-chief-fires-back-jayapal-over-claim-majority-immigration-arrests-pose-no-threat
- Author: Nora Moriarty
- Published: 2026-09-20T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: markwayne mullin, pramila jayapal, dhs, ice, homeland security, immigration arrests, border enforcement, news, politics
## DHS chief responds to Jayapal
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin pushed back on Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s claim that the majority of people arrested by DHS pose absolutely no threat to public safety.

> Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin pushed back on Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s, D-Wash., claim that the "majority of people" arrested by DHS pose "absolutely no threat to public safety."
## Mullin defends border enforcement
Mullin rejected Jayapal’s characterization on "Saturday in America," saying DHS and ICE remain committed to targeting high-risk individuals to keep American communities safe.

> Mullin rejected Jayapal’s characterization on "Saturday in America," saying DHS and ICE remain committed to targeting high-risk individuals to keep American communities safe.
## Mullin's security argument
Mullin argued that crimes committed by illegal immigrants have led to tragedy and that all angel families who lost loved ones to illegal immigrants are 100% preventable.

> All the angel families that lost their loved ones at the hands of an illegal is 100% preventable, because that illegal shouldn't be in our country to begin with.
## Jayapal's immigration claim
Jayapal, the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, argued that immigration enforcement under the Trump administration targeted immigrants without criminal convictions.

> For the first time this summer, the majority of people that DHS arrested were people who pose absolutely no threat to public safety, and the number of people with criminal convictions who are arrested by ICE actually decreased, decreased, not increased.
## ICE arrest record
ICE arrested nearly 51,000 illegal immigrants nationwide in August, marking the highest monthly total on record, according to DHS.

> ICE arrested nearly 51,000 illegal immigrants nationwide in August, marking the highest monthly total on record, according to DHS.
## Mullin's final statement
Mullin stated that when you break immigration policies, you remain a criminal and will be arrested regardless of border crossings.

> When you decide you're going to break our immigration policies, and you're going to cut the line, you're going to step across our southern border, you're going to step across our northern border. You're still a criminal. We’re still gonna arrest you.
## Key takeaway

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin rejects Rep. Pramila Jayapal's assertion that the majority of people arrested by DHS pose no threat to public safety.