Markwayne Mullin news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE could enter polling sites for specific threats. Democrats fear midterm election interference.
Background
Markwayne Mullin, the Homeland Security Secretary, has been in the news for several reasons. He recently announced that DHS could deploy to polling sites for specific threats, which has raised concerns among Democrats about potential interference in the November midterm elections. Additionally, he has been involved in a crackdown on alleged trucking fraud and has faced criticism for his statements about New York and actions on tribal lands.
How it unfolded
- Aug 25, 2026Masked federal agents entered the Tohono O'odham Nation early in the morning to prevent tribal authorities from blocking contractors, sparking outrage.
- Aug 31, 2026Mullin and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a crackdown on alleged trucking fraud.
- Sep 1, 2026Mullin held a press conference in New York City, touting ICE arrests and saying DHS could deploy to polling sites for specific threats.
- Sep 2, 2026A Coast Guard plane carrying Mullin made an emergency landing in Virginia after an engine failure.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Mullin said ICE is not there to patrol polling places but to enforce specific threats, and that DHS would expand presence in New York if local authorities don't aid them.
- Democrats
- Democrats have raised alarms that DHS could send ICE agents to polling places, potentially interfering in the midterm elections.
- Tribal leaders
- Jason Nichols, a Cherokee Nation member, called the incursion by masked agents a 'step backward' in federal-tribal relations, surprising given Mullin's knowledge of tribal sovereignty.
- Editorial
- An editorial in amNewYork accused Mullin of lying about New York being 'crime-ridden' and using the press conference to disparage local leaders.
Still unverified
The specific nature of 'specific threats' that would justify DHS deployment to polling sites has not been detailed. The emergency landing was due to engine failure, but no injuries were reported.