Democratic Senate Candidate Opposes Nomination of DHS Head
James Talarico, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, recently expressed his opposition to Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security during an interview in Dallas, Texas. He stated he would reject any nominee who doesn’t support dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which he refers to as the “secret police.”
In a conversation with Tim Miller on a podcast, Talarico was directly asked if he would vote against Mullin for the Cabinet position. He clearly stated, “I would say no to any candidate for chief who doesn’t want to dismantle this secret police force and replace it with an agency that actually focuses on public safety.”
Reflecting on his past as a public school teacher in San Antonio, Talarico shared his concerns. He mentioned teaching many undocumented students who, he noted, were often the most patriotic. “They were born with an understanding about this country that many people forget: This country should be a land of opportunity, a place where dreams come true,” he remarked.
Talarico described these students as individuals who “believed in this country, even if this country didn’t believe in them.” He criticized current enforcement practices, stating, “The most powerful politicians in this country are trying to protect my former students and their families. Terrorizing hardworking individuals who contribute to our economy is, to me, immoral. It’s unconscionable. It’s unacceptable and it has to end.”
He proposed an alternative vision for immigration enforcement, saying, “We should be cracking down on cartels, not communities. We should be deporting gang members, not small business owners. We should be hunting down human traffickers, not mothers and babies.” Talarico went on to assert that both political parties have failed on this issue over the last three decades, admitting the shortcomings of his own party and the Biden administration. He stated these failures have led to the rise of “masked men and unmarked vehicles kidnapping people from the streets.”
Talarico concluded with a call for leadership that balances immigration and security. “Texans and Americans just want a leader who has two things in mind at the same time: pro-immigration and pro-security. We’ve been led to believe these are mutually exclusive, but they’re not.”
His statements followed Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security. On March 19, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-7 to advance the nomination, with Senate Chairman Sen. Rand Paul opposing it and Sen. John Fetterman providing the decisive vote in support. A full Senate vote on Mullin’s nomination is anticipated early next week.
