US Senate Confirms Mullin as Homeland Security Secretary

The US Senate has confirmed Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Mullin, 48, assumes the post at a time when the DHS has been reeling from a partial government shutdown as it works to enforce President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Democratic opposition parties refuse to approve funding for the department until it implements sweeping reforms to its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

A congressional committee held a hearing with Mullen last week, shortly after the dismissal of Secretary Kristi Noem, who was criticized particularly for her handling of operations targeting illegal immigration in Minneapolis, which resulted in the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal agents. (AFP)