US Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin as homeland security chief

The Senate has confirmed Markwayne Mullin, a US senator from Oklahoma, as the next secretary of homeland security. Mullin will lead the Department of Homeland Security at a time when the agency has faced multiple immigration enforcement problems and operational missteps. His confirmation comes as the Trump administration prioritizes immigration enforcement and border security as central policy objectives. Mullin will oversee agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which carry out the administration's immigration policies. The appointment represents a significant shift in DHS leadership and reflects the administration's intent to tighten control over the immigration system.