Blumenthal Presses Mullin About Excessive Use of Force by DHS Agents, ICE Policy Allowing Agents to Forcibly Enter Homes Without a Judicial Warrant

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), today pressed Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), about excessive use of force by DHS agents and a secret U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy permitting agents to circumvent the Constitution's Fourth Amendment and enter Americans' homes without a standard judicial warrant.

"We are here because of a lawless and reckless agency that has broken into homes without judicial approval, shot United States citizens, detained them without any cause, and sometimes killed them. And I am looking for real substantive reform in that agency-as you and I have discussed, when you came to talk to me. A break with the past-with former Secretary Noem and with the White House, Steve Miller and others, who have used Kristi Noem in effect as a puppet to implement lawless policy," Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal continued, "ICE has been breaking into people's homes without any judicial warrant. The sanctity of our homes is absolutely critical. I think you would agree with that point. And it is the law that a judicial warrant is required to forcibly enter someone's home. Kristi Noem acknowledged in her testimony, in response to my questions, that at least 28 break-ins have occurred. My Ranking Member leadership on the Subcommittee for Permanent Investigations has produced a report that shows probably many more such break-ins have occurred-the result of a memo last May from the Acting Director Todd Lyons, and it's behind me now, that instructed ICE agents to break into homes."

In a reversal of previous DHS policy, Mullin stated that "a judicial warrant will be used to go into houses, into place of businesses unless we are pursuing someone that enters in that place."

Blumenthal continued, "A whistleblower testified to our hearing that in fact ICE agents had been instructed as part of their training to forcibly enter-I know you don't like the word 'break-in,' but forcibly enter is breaking into somebody's home, bashing down the door, terrorizing children. Instructed them to adopt this policy."

As Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Blumenthal has led an investigation into DHS's abuses. In December 2025, Blumenthal released a report examining the Trump Administration's extrajudicial immigration detentions of U.S. citizens. Blumenthal has also convened public forums to receive testimony from individuals who have experienced violent use of force by DHS agents.

The video of Blumenthal's exchange with Mullin is available here. The full transcript is available below.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Welcome, Senator Mullin. Thank you for being here today, and thank you to your family for your service and theirs. I hope that you will be as emotional about the children who are presently detained at Dilley and other camps in the United States of America where they have been subjected to conditions that would outrage and have angered many Americans. We are here because of a lawless and reckless agency that has broken into homes without judicial approval, shot United States citizens, detained them without any cause, and sometimes killed them. And I am looking for real substantive reform in that agency-as you and I have discussed, when you came to talk to me. A break with the past-with former Secretary Noem and with the White House, Steve Miller and others, who have used Kristi Noem in effect as a puppet to implement lawless policy.

I welcome that you have stated you regret your statement after the killing of Alex Pretti. You said on Fox News, "Unfortunately, an individual, a deranged individual that came to cause max damage with a loaded pistol with an extra mag that was completely loaded, and shot and killed." And you regret that statement, do you not?

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK): I already said that, sir, yes.

Blumenthal: And what about what you said about Renee Good after she was shot and killed? You appeared on CNN, and you were asked whether you believed the shooting was justified, and you replied, "Absolutely." Do you regret that statement as well?

Mullin: Senator, it is very clear that an officer had to make a split decision in that case, as a car was running towards him and did strike him. At that point, that car becomes a lethal weapon, and as officer-there was another officer, obviously giving her verbal commands, and

Blumenthal: So are you saying, and I apologize for interrupting you, but you're saying you do not regret that statement?

Mullin: I'm saying that the investigation is going on, but what we've seen

Blumenthal: There is no investigation, Senator. In fact, that was my next question to you-don't you think there should be an investigation?

Mullin: My understanding is that there is. I will find out once, if I'm able to get confirmed. But those are two different incidences.

Blumenthal: Well, in fact, the Department of Homeland Security and the Trump Administration has blocked state and local investigation of the killing of Renee Good. And I hope that you will permit that investigation to go forward.

Mullin: Senator, state and local investigation doesn't, doesn't investigate federal, FBI does that, DOJ, and I believe the FBI is looking into this case. And I do want to say something to you. What you said about the terrible conditions that this Administration is putting in kids, but what you left out is that they have actually recovered over 160,000 kids that were trafficked or lost during the Biden Administration. What is inhumane is the 12,000 to 13,000 individuals coming across the border every single day, and we're not having tracked the kids. At one time the number was up at 385,000. That's sad.

Blumenthal: Let me move on, Senator Mullin, because you said that you are going to be, and I'm quoting you, "Blunt and direct and to the point." So I regret that you don't retract that statement about Renee Good. But I want to ask about a statement that was made regarding the Pretti killing by Steve Miller in the White House. He said, "Pretti was a domestic terrorist," who "tried to assassinate federal law enforcement." Don't you think it was irresponsible and reckless for Stephen Miller to post that claim on X without any evidence, just as you have retracted your statement?

Mullin: Senator, I believe that question is better asked to Stephen Miller, not myself. I cannot speak for him.

Blumenthal: Well, Stephen Miller also said-again, on Fox News-"Under President Trump's leadership, we are looking to set a goal of a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day." If you're confirmed, are you going to be directing ICE to arrest 3,000 people a day?

Mullin: Sir, once again, can't speak for Senator-Stephen Miller, but I can say the President has tapped me to be the Secretary of Homeland, and I will lead that Department, and I'll lead it to-

Blumenthal: So will you continue that arrest quota of 3,000 people a day?

Mullin: No quota has been set for me, sir.

Blumenthal: Well, in effect it's a quota if the White House directs the DHS Secretary to arrest 3,000 people a day.

Mullin: The President of the United States sets the policies, and I'll be working with the President. If you have a question for Stephen Miller, please ask him.

Blumenthal: Well, I really regret that you are going to stick to those same policies and practices and condone the statements of the White House that are so demeaning to someone who was a victim of lawlessness and recklessness by an ICE officer.

Mullin: Senator, I didn't say that. You're putting words in my mouth.

Blumenthal: Let me ask a different question. ICE has been breaking into people's homes without any judicial warrant. The sanctity of our homes is absolutely critical. I think you would agree with that point. And it is the law that a judicial warrant is required to forcibly enter someone's home. Kristi Noem acknowledged in her testimony, in response to my questions, that at least 28 break-ins have occurred. My Ranking Member leadership on the Subcommittee for Permanent Investigations has produced a report that shows probably many more such break-ins have occurred-the result of a memo last May from the Acting Director Todd Lyons, and it's behind me now, that instructed ICE agents to break into homes. I understand that during your staff interview last week, you said that there would be no more such break-ins to people's homes without a judicial warrant. If confirmed, will you commit to me and the Chair and Ranking Member of this Committee and the American people that ICE will no longer instruct agents to break into people's homes without a judicial warrant?

Mullin: Sir, you're using the word "break into people's houses" very loosely. However, I have made it very clear to the staff, and I think when you and I spoke, that a judicial warrant will be used to go into houses, into place of businesses unless we are pursuing someone that enters in that place. I have not mixed words with that, and I haven't changed my opinion about that.

Blumenthal: A whistleblower testified to our hearing that in fact ICE agents had been instructed as part of their training to forcibly enter-I know you don't like the word "break-in," but forcibly enter is breaking into somebody's home, bashing down the door, terrorizing children. Instructed them to adopt this policy. Will you commit that no longer will ICE agents or CBP agents be instructed to forcibly enter people's homes without a judicial warrant?

Mullin: Sir, I already answered this question for you. I said we will not enter a home or place of business without a judicial warrant unless we are pursuing an individual that runs into a place of business or residence-or a house.

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