Steve Bannon is urging President Donald Trump to replace Homeland Security Secretary , accusing him of straying from the administration's mass-deportation agenda after Mullin called for expanded permanent work visas and broader immigration reform.
"Mullin is the wrong guy at the wrong time for the wrong job—a time when we need focus on 'mass deportations,' we get an amnesty advocate," Bannon told Politico Playbook. He said Trump should instead appoint Bill Pulte, the outgoing acting director of national intelligence, whom Bannon described as "Pitbull" Pulte.
The criticism followed remarks Mullin made Saturday at the National Governors Association summer meeting, where he argued the U.S. immigration system needs broader reforms alongside stricter enforcement. He said some industries facing chronic labor shortages, such as dairy farming, have evolved beyond seasonal work and require "more permanent solutions" through employment-based visas rather than temporary permits.
Mullin drew a distinction between immigrants who entered the country illegally without seeking legal status and those attempting to follow existing legal pathways. "If you have a criminal background, we're not making exceptions for you," he said, adding that "there are zero exceptions."
He added that those who entered illegally or overstayed their visas without pursuing legal status should expect to be detained and deported, but argued the U.S. should also expand permanent employment-based visas in sectors facing chronic labor shortages, saying "there's a way to utilize labor where we're not having the participation rate we need to ... and we can plug those holes."
Markwayne Mullin says America needs longer term foreign workers to fill labor shortages while putting Americans first but critics warn the plan risks locking in cheaper labor and undercutting U S workers across the economy#NYI pic.twitter.com/3TmNPElHGw
— NewYork-Insight (@NewYork_Insight) August 2, 2026
Hours later, as criticism spread among conservative commentators, Mullin sought to clarify his position on X, writing: "NO amnesty for illegal aliens. Ever." He added: "We are a nation of laws. If you are illegally present in the United States of America—you will be detained and deported. Period."
NO amnesty for illegal aliens. Ever. We are a nation of laws. If you are illegally present in the United States of America— you will be detained and deported. Period.
— Secretary Markwayne Mullin (@SecMullinDHS) August 2, 2026
The clarification did not stop criticism from Bannon and other figures in Trump's political base, as Forbes points out. Former Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino said voters had demanded mass deportations and called Mullin's appearance "a masterclass in how to give terrible answers" while conservative activist Robby Starbuck described the remarks as "a total betrayal."
Elsewhere, Laura Loomer called for Mullin's removal and dcaster Jack Posobiec said there was a "growing wave among MAGA to find a DHS secretary who puts deportations first."
A White House spokesperson told Politico that Trump retains confidence Mullin, while DHS said the department remains focused on carrying out the president's deportation agenda and accused critics of trying to "sow division and create an illusion of chaos."
