DHS Secretary says California governor candidate Steyer misunderstands ICE

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin accused California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer of failing to understand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); He promised to abolish the institution if elected as the new leader of the Democratic Party.

On “The Ingraham Angle” Wednesday, Mullin pushed back against Steyer’s comments that ICE has “criminal” tendencies.

“I’ve been very clear on this issue; ICE must be abolished,” Steyer said during a February debate. “You can’t really reform an organization that is completely wrong and criminal from top to bottom.”

Mullin, who took the reins of the Department of Homeland Security about three weeks ago, said the Democratic gubernatorial candidate does not have the authority to terminate the federal immigration agency.

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“He doesn’t have the authority to do this and he’s talking out of the left side of his mouth,” he told Fox News host Laura Ingraham. “He doesn’t understand ICE’s role.”

Recent polls show Steyer as a frontrunner in the race to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom. He leads with 21% of likely voters, while Republican candidate Steve Hilton trails with 18%. Steyer emerged as an immediate leader in the Democratic Party after various allegations of sexual misconduct forced Eric Swalwell to abandon his gubernatorial campaign and resign from Congress.

U.S. President Donald Trump watches as Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin speaks as he is newly sworn in, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 24, 2026. (Photo: Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)

Mullin criticized Steyer’s handling of immigration enforcement, arguing that ICE must comply with federal law.

“ICE is simply enforcing the nation’s immigration policies and deporting individuals and going after criminals who should never be in this country,” the DHS chief told Fox News.

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“We don’t do anything outside the law, we work well within the law, and they do business every day protecting people like him, even people who want to decriminalize criminals. That doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Mullin also said Steyer’s fellow California Democrats, who hold largely anti-ICE stances, have the power to reform ICE through congressional legislation.

“[Steyer] Is he saying they are guilty from head to toe? ICE enforces the laws passed by Congress. “This means that if Democrats who represent California in the federal government want to change ICE’s authority, they can do so,” he added.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents knock on the door of a residence during a multi-agency targeted enforcement operation on Sunday, January 26, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg)

Fox News Digital has reached out to Steyer’s campaign for comment.

In addition to defending ICE, the new DHS secretary vowed to continue the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign and declared his willingness to accept the “right” kind of immigrants.

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“We’re not slowing down,” Mullin said. “We go after illegals, and we would love for them to leave on their own, and we will assist them. We have programs to help you get back to your country, because if we have to go through the prosecution process, you can never come back to this country legally.”

“We want legal immigration, people who want to strengthen the country. We are a nation of immigrants. We understand this. But the right kind of immigrants.”