Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has drawn backlash from MAGA allies who say his habit of doing favors for former congressional colleagues is softening Trump's deportation agenda.
Mullin gave up his Senate seat to take over the Department of Homeland Security in March. He has since faced mounting calls for his removal from prominent figures on the right.
On Thursday, Axios reported that Mullin had a reputation for catering to his former Senate colleagues "at the risk of drawing a backlash from the White House and MAGA" after becoming DHS chief.
"Once you leave the Senate, you're eager to please your old friends ... and that's why there's a lot of what seems to be constituent services work happening out of DHS," former DHS attorney Mike Howell told Axios.
Steve Bannon, Laura Loomer and Jack Posobiec are among those demanding his removal.
"Mullin is the wrong guy at the wrong time for the wrong job — a time when we need focus on 'mass deportations,' we get an amnesty advocate," former Trump adviser Steve Bannon told Politico.
"There is a growing wave among MAGA to find a Department of Homeland Security secretary who puts deportations first," MAGA podcaster Jack Posobiec told Politico's Playbook.
Right-wing activist Laura Loomer declared she was "so fed up" and called for Trump to fire Mullin. Conservative activist Robby Starbuck added that "the weakness he projects is disturbing."
Mullin spent 13 years in Congress before taking over at the Department of Homeland Security, and Axios reported Wednesday that he has repeatedly acted on personal appeals from former Hill colleagues — sometimes reversing course on enforcement priorities.
After two senators called Mullin to request a review of Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest policies in traffic stops, Mullin backed a temporary pause — only to be overturned by Trump the following day amid MAGA outrage, Axios reported.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) wrote to Mullin asking him to meet with local stakeholders over controversial border construction in Big Bend National Park, Axios reported. Ten days later, Customs and Border Protection halted work in the area.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) later said the pause was "a consequence of my conversations with the secretary," Axios reported.
In May, a call from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led to the release of an immigrant spouse of a U.S. military member from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, according to Axios.
When Mullin threatened to cut off international air travel from sanctuary cities before the World Cup, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D-CA) got him on the phone.
"I served with Secretary Mullin before — we actually worked together on foster care," Bass told local reporters, according to Axios. Mullin dropped the travel threat shortly after.
Former Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan told Axios the pattern has a cost.
"What I'm seeing is a politician reaching out to other politicians. And then I see statements and potential policy and operational strategy being driven by politics, rather than the law and substance," Morgan said.