GOP Senator Mullin Explored Bipartisan Deal to Rein in Immigration Crackdown

Mullin's proposal with House Democrat Gottheimer went further than White House has publicly offered.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:20am

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Senator Markwayne Mullin, the Oklahoma Republican chosen by President Trump to be the next homeland security secretary, privately discussed a bipartisan compromise on immigration enforcement with Representative Josh Gottheimer, a moderate Democrat from New Jersey. Their proposal would require federal immigration agents to obtain judicial warrants for forced home entry, bar civil immigration enforcement at certain sensitive locations, and revert to training and detention facility standards from the Biden administration - concessions the White House has repeatedly rejected.

Why it matters

Mullin's willingness to negotiate a bipartisan deal on immigration enforcement suggests he may be open to moderating Trump's hardline approach, even as the administration has refused Democrats' demands. This could signal a shift in the administration's stance as it faces a public backlash over its deportation policies ahead of the midterm elections.

The details

Mullin and Gottheimer have been discussing a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security that could satisfy both Democrats seeking restrictions and the White House. Their proposal would require judicial warrants for forced home entry by immigration agents, bar enforcement at sensitive locations like hospitals and schools, and revert to Biden-era training and detention standards. This goes further than the narrower changes the White House has said it would accept, such as requiring visible ID for agents and limiting enforcement at some locations.

  • For weeks, Mullin and Gottheimer have been discussing the bipartisan proposal.
  • Mullin suggested openness to some of the proposal's elements during his confirmation hearing this week.

The players

Markwayne Mullin

A first-term Republican senator from Oklahoma who was chosen by President Trump to be the next homeland security secretary.

Josh Gottheimer

A moderate Democratic representative from New Jersey who has been working with Mullin on the bipartisan immigration enforcement proposal.

Tom Homan

The White House border czar who has met with a bipartisan group of senators to outline narrower changes the Trump administration would accept.

Hakeem Jeffries

The House minority leader who has been informed of the Mullin-Gottheimer negotiations.

Donald Trump

The president who chose Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

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What they’re saying

“My goal is for people to understand we're out there, we're protecting them, and we're working with them.”

— Markwayne Mullin, Senator

“As a rule, for fear of undercutting progress, I won't discuss any ongoing negotiations with my colleagues.”

— Josh Gottheimer, Representative

“The bipartisan progress that has been made on a judicial warrant requirement, protecting sensitive locations like polling sites and independent state investigations is a meaningful step in the right direction.”

— Christie Stephenson, Spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

What’s next

It is unclear whether Mullin has circulated the bipartisan proposal among senators, whose approval would be crucial for any deal. The White House has so far rejected Democrats' demands for judicial warrants and restrictions on immigration enforcement, though it has signaled openness to some concessions like requiring visible ID for agents.

The takeaway

Mullin's willingness to negotiate a bipartisan compromise on immigration enforcement, even as the White House has resisted Democratic demands, suggests he may be open to moderating the administration's hardline approach. This could signal a shift in the administration's stance as it faces a public backlash over its deportation policies ahead of the midterm elections.