Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Wednesday criticized California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer for calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying Steyer does not understand the agency’s role.
Mullin made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, where he pushed back on Steyer’s February debate comment that “ICE should be abolished” and that the agency is “absolutely wrong and criminal from top to bottom,” according to the network.
“He doesn’t have the authority to do it, and he’s talking on the left side of his mouth,” Mullin told host Laura Ingraham, adding that “he doesn’t understand ICE’s role.” Mullin said ICE enforces the nation’s immigration policies, “deports individuals and goes after the criminals that should never be in this country to begin with,” and that the agency operates within the law.
Mullin also said California’s congressional delegation could change ICE’s authority through legislation, saying, “ICE is enforcing the laws that Congress passed. That means that the Democrats that represent California in the federal government, if they wanted to change ICE’s authority, they could do it.”
Steyer, who has surged in recent polling as a Democratic front-runner in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, told Fox News Digital in a statement that President Donald Trump “has turned ICE into a criminal enterprise, so we will treat them like one.” Recent polling placed Steyer at about 21% of likely voters, with Republican Steve Hilton at about 18%, according to a recent poll. Steyer’s rise followed the withdrawal of Eric Swalwell from the race and his resignation from Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct, according to news reports.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
