A Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on June 3, 2026, was interrupted by a heated exchange between Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Van Hollen accused the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of having a pattern of abuse in enforcing immigration laws, referencing recent shootings involving DHS personnel. Mullin countered that there was no pattern, stating that the incidents were not significant compared to the daily average of 1,900 encounters.
Van Hollen insisted that three incidents in a row constituted a pattern, while Mullin disagreed. The discussion escalated, with Van Hollen urging Mullin to calm down during the exchange. Van Hollen also pressed Mullin to share evidence from federal officer-involved shootings with Minnesota authorities, expressing distrust in the administration's commitment to an independent investigation.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) questioned Mullin about DHS's compliance with court orders, citing a federal judge's findings of nearly 100 violations in Minnesota. Mullin responded that DHS would enforce laws but expressed skepticism about the politicization of courts. The hearing highlighted concerns about DHS operations and accountability.
