Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated on June 2, 2026, that he did not directly commit to obeying court rulings due to concerns about "politicized" courts. During his first congressional hearing, Mullin emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would enforce the law and adhere to the Constitution. However, when questioned by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) about DHS's compliance with court orders, Mullin refrained from giving a clear response, citing a perception of politicization within the judiciary.
Mullin remarked, "If we didn’t think courts were politicized, then I would probably be able to answer that," and expressed concern over the frequency of lower court rulings being overturned by higher courts. The discussion arose in the context of a budget request for DHS, which is seeking $118.4 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, including allocations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection.
Murphy highlighted the implications of a Republican-appointed federal judge's findings that ICE had violated nearly 100 court orders, raising concerns about funding an agency that does not comply with the law. The hearing also touched on accusations from Mullin regarding New Jersey Democrats politicizing protests outside Delaney Hall, where state health inspectors were granted limited access. The exchange concluded with Murphy warning that both political parties might disregard court rulings if they perceive them as politicized, referencing the precedent set by the Trump administration.
