Kaine Calls Noem DHS Vote a 'Big Mistake' and Warns Mullin Could Face Same Stephen Miller Influence in Homeland Security Post
Sen. Tim Kaine said his vote to support Kristi Noem for DHS was a "big mistake," accusing Trump aide Stephen Miller of "calling the shots" and warning that Markwayne Mullin could face similar influence; Kaine urged reforms at ICE and CBP — including no warrantless home entries, body cameras and no masked officers — and tied those demands to the DHS funding stalemate, noting DHS enforcement components received money in last year’s "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Mullin says he will "earn" Democratic votes and is open to talks even as Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer demand DHS and ICE be reined in before considering nominees, while other senators are split — Democrat Peter Welch praised Mullin as competent and likely to be confirmed and Republican Thom Tillis also criticized Miller’s outsized influence but predicted Mullin may act more independently — and Oklahoma braces for a likely Senate vacancy with GOP hopefuls already circling.
📌 Key Facts
- Sen. Tim Kaine said his vote to confirm Kristi Noem as DHS secretary was a "big mistake," accused Stephen Miller of "calling the shots" at DHS, and warned Markwayne Mullin could face similar Miller influence if confirmed.
- Kaine and other Democrats laid out specific reforms they want at ICE and CBP — including no home entries without warrants, mandatory body cameras, and no masked officers — and tied those demands to both Mullin's confirmation and the DHS funding stalemate.
- Kaine noted DHS immigration enforcement components received significant funding in last year’s "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and argued negotiations should focus on reforms rather than additional funding.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate should not consider any DHS secretary nominee until DHS and ICE are "reined in," framing the dispute as policy-focused rather than personnel-focused.
- Markwayne Mullin says he wants to "earn" Democratic votes and is open to talks with Schumer and his caucus, but so far has opposed Democrats’ demands tied to reopening DHS.
- Democratic Sen. Peter Welch praised Mullin as "competent," "honest" and "respected," said "he’ll be confirmed," and emphasized the confirmation debate will center on DHS policy direction — citing concerns such as masked agents, raids on churches/farms/worksites, and threats of election interference; Sen. John Fetterman has signaled support.
- Republican Sen. Thom Tillis also criticized Stephen Miller's "outsized influence," said Miller should go, but predicted Mullin would act more independently than Noem.
- Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said he will appoint "a strong, small-government conservative" to temporarily fill Mullin’s seat who will be barred from running in the special election; Reps. Stephanie Bice and Kevin Hern have signaled interest in the likely open seat.
📊 Relevant Data
Latinos accounted for about nine in 10 ICE arrests during the first six months of President Trump's second administration in 2025, compared to less than 10% for non-Latinos.
Unseen Latino Ice Arrests Surge Under Trump — UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished national-origin quotas, leading to increased immigration from Latin America and Asia; as a result, the Hispanic population in the US grew from 4% in 1965 to 19% in 2023, while the Asian population grew from less than 1% to 6%, and the non-Hispanic White population declined from 84% to 58%.
Key findings about U.S. immigrants — Pew Research Center
Migration from countries like Guatemala and Honduras to the US is driven by high levels of violence, with homicide rates in Honduras at 25.3 per 100,000 in 2024 and in Guatemala at 17.3 per 100,000 in 2025, compared to the US rate of approximately 6 per 100,000.
How violent is Latin America in 2025? — Latinometrics
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Sen. Tim Kaine publicly says his vote to confirm Kristi Noem as DHS secretary was a 'big mistake,' citing her lack of independence from Trump aide Stephen Miller.
- Kaine asserts that 'Stephen Miller is calling the shots' at DHS and labels it a 'rogue, renegade department' absent reforms, warning Mullin could repeat Noem’s pattern.
- Kaine lays out specific reforms Democrats want at ICE and CBP — including no home entries without warrants, use of body cameras, and no masked officers — and links those to both Mullin’s confirmation and the DHS funding stalemate.
- Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, in a separate Sunday interview, also criticizes Miller’s 'outsized influence' and says Miller should go, even as he predicts Mullin will act more independently than Noem.
- Kaine notes DHS immigration enforcement components received an influx of money in last year’s 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' and says 'they’re not running out of money,' arguing negotiations should focus on reform rather than more funds.
- Democratic Sen. Peter Welch publicly praised Markwayne Mullin as 'competent,' 'honest' and 'respected' and said 'he’ll be confirmed.'
- Welch indicated the main debate over Mullin will be about DHS policy direction rather than his personal integrity or qualifications.
- Welch cited specific concerns he wants addressed with Mullin, including masked agents, raids on churches, farms and worksites, and threats of election interference, and noted Sen. John Fetterman has already signaled support.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer explicitly says 'The Senate should not consider any DHS secretary nominee until DHS and ICE are reined in,' framing this as a policy, not personnel, dispute.
- Mullin publicly says he wants to 'earn' Democratic votes and is open to talks with Schumer and his caucus, but has so far opposed Democrats’ demands tied to reopening DHS.
- Fox quotes Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statement that he will appoint 'a strong, small-government conservative' to temporarily fill Mullin’s seat and confirms that his appointee will be barred from running in the special election.
- Reps. Stephanie Bice and Kevin Hern are identified by name as GOP hopefuls already signaling interest in the likely open Oklahoma Senate seat, with Bice issuing a statement that she is 'carefully considering' a run after 'encouragement from every corner' of the state.