Episode summary
DHS Secretary Mullen appeared on Andrew's show to clarify the administration's position on Haitian Temporary Protected Status recipients and provide updates on escalating immigration enforcement operations. Mullen definitively stated that Haitian TPS recipients must leave the United States following a Supreme Court ruling, with limited exceptions for those who filed status changes before the ruling or are married to U.S. citizens. He emphasized that temporary status was never meant to be permanent and that individuals now classified as illegal immigrants must return to their home countries to reapply for legal entry. The secretary revealed that ICE set two enforcement records over the weekend, averaging 3,500 arrests per day on Saturday and Sunday. The administration is currently about 100,000 deportations below the entire 2025 total and is on pace to surpass that figure by mid-August, with a goal of potentially doubling last year's numbers. Mullen disclosed that over 1.3 million individuals have been either deported or self-deported since President Trump took office. He explained the administration's strategy of targeting the worst offenders first, noting that when arresting individuals with felony charges, they typically apprehend an additional 4.3 individuals in the process. The secretary also addressed asylum seekers who entered through Biden's CBP1 app, stating those cases must proceed through the court system, with the administration working with DOJ to hire 1,500 additional judges. However, many asylum seekers who fail to update their addresses or miss court dates are immediately subject to arrest for parole violations. Mullen acknowledged that while daily deportation numbers continue to increase, the administration expects to eventually hit a plateau as low-hanging fruit is exhausted and enforcement must dig deeper to find individuals in hiding.
