DHS Secretary: No amnesty, but bipartisan talks are coming

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin ruled out any form of amnesty for individuals residing in the country with indefinite immigration status. He stated that while his department remains open to bipartisan cooperation, a blanket waiver for those currently without legal status is not on the table.

Mullin made the comments while speaking to reporters at a conference on drone technology in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. He described amnesty as a line in the sand for Republicans, a stance that has complicated legislative efforts in Congress. He emphasized that his office has not yet held a dedicated session on immigration policy with the White House.

Following the recent midterm elections, voter dissatisfaction with aggressive deportation measures became evident. President Donald Trump subsequently indicated a willingness to work with Democrats on the issue. In a Sunday interview with "60 Minutes," the president suggested that his administration's deportation tactics may have been too forceful for the electorate.

Mullin, who served as a U.S. Representative and Senator before joining the Trump administration early this year, noted an increase in calls from Democratic colleagues since the elections. He said he informed the president of this contact. "The president has said that let's start working with them and then let's get together at some point," Mullin told journalists. He added that the two have not yet discussed specific policy details.

The administration recently elevated Stephen Miller, a key architect of the current immigration strategy, to the position of White House Chief of Staff. Mullin called this a "great choice" in a social media post on November 6, 2026, praising Miller's leadership alongside outgoing chief Susie Wiles. The move has raised questions within Congress about the administration's posture toward legislative compromise.

Mullin argued that a bipartisan approach is the only viable path to passing comprehensive immigration reform. He cited his own history of working with Democrats on immigration legislation during his time in Congress. "I think the only way to really get it done is with a bipartisan approach," he said. However, he maintained that amnesty would never be part of that solution.

Regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, Mullin stated that determining how to regularize the status of its recipients is a matter for Congress. "If we want immigration reform where we can look at DACA and find a way for these people to maybe become legal permanent residents or something like that, that is up to Congress," he said. He noted that the executive branch would leave that specific legislative language to lawmakers.

The comments come as the administration balances its enforcement priorities with the political reality of a divided government. Mullin's remarks clarify the boundaries of potential negotiations, separating the concept of general reform from the specific issue of amnesty for those already in the country.