WATCH: Mullin testifies before House committee on DHS oversight
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was on Capitol Hill facing questions from the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
Watch the hearing in the player above.
Mullin did not read his opening remarks, instead submitting them into the committee's record so that representatives could get straight to questioning him about the department he oversees.
Educate your inbox
Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.
One heated exchange came between Mullin and Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., over Homeland Security not reporting deaths in detentions centers.
Underwood asked Mullin if "the death rate in ICE custody has doubled during President Trump's second term. Will you commit to reporting detainee deaths as required by law?"
"We do report them, ma'am," said Mullin.
"What you're talking about is what Congress has asked us to do, which we're not required to do is report the deaths after they're released, that doesn't That doesn't make any sense. They're not under our watch at that point. If they die in our release, we report them."
This comes after earlier this month Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they would no longer report deaths of detainees who have recently been released from its custody, in a change that could obscure the full human cost of the Trump administration's mass detention policies.
The move rescinds a 2021 policy implemented by the Biden administration that required ICE to report to Congress and investigate deaths of detainees that occur within 30 days of their release.
The goal of the 2021 policy was to ensure that ICE could not avoid accountability for deaths by releasing severely ill people from custody. Detainees who were brain-dead or suffering from infection, for instance, have died shortly after ICE released them in the past.
Mullin did take time to commend his department on the job they have done so far with the World Cup.
"There's been no serious issue we've had some threats come up we've been on the knock it down because of our of our relationship with FBI plus ICE at which has HSI which can investigate go make the rest," said Mullin.
"So we've head of great fan experience we've got great report back from our fan base."
The World Cup, a 48-team, 104-match behemoth across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, presents an unprecedented security challenge, with more countries, games and a larger footprint than ever before.
Overseeing the sprawling security apparatus is a legion of federal agencies, state and local police departments and private entities.
Their responsibilities range from securing stadiums and fan zones to escorting teams and protecting dignitaries.
The tournament has the same high-level federal security designation as the Super Bowl, just below a presidential inauguration or a national political convention, ensuring federal, state and local coordination.
It also coincides with other major events linked to the 250th anniversary of America's founding.
Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
