DHS chief Mullin touts 4,170 arrests in Texas immigration sweep ahead of midterms

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin visited Texas on Thursday to announce the conclusion of a federal immigration enforcement sweep. The 10-day operation, known as Lone Star Mission, resulted in the arrest of 4,170 individuals between October 19 and October 29. This announcement occurred just days before the midterm elections, a period when the administration has intensified its focus on the state.

Mullin presented the figures during a press conference that featured pointed remarks against sanctuary jurisdictions. He argued that local policies limiting cooperation with federal agents effectively support criminal networks. “When you support sanctuary policies, you’re supporting gang bangers, you’re supporting child pedophiles, you’re supporting rapists, you’re supporting cartels, you’re supporting organized crime,” Mullin said. He frequently contrasted current policies with those of former President Joe Biden, attributing crime and public safety issues to the previous administration without presenting specific evidence.

According to Mullin, roughly 60 percent of the 4,170 people arrested had criminal histories. He described the remaining 40 percent as collateral arrests. DHS officials did not provide a specific breakdown of those criminal records or indicate how many individuals had been convicted of violent crimes. “They should never be in this country to begin with, regardless if it’s a violent crime or it’s petty theft,” Mullin stated.

The federal sweep operates separately from the state’s long-running Operation Lone Star. Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched that initiative in 2021, deploying state troopers and National Guard members to the border. Since the return of President Donald Trump to office, Texas National Guard soldiers have been authorized to make immigration arrests under federal authority. State agencies now work alongside federal officers in these efforts.

Mullin’s visit coincided with a series of political appearances in Texas intended to rally Republican voters. President Trump held rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock on Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance addressed a Republican gathering in Weatherford on Thursday. The heightened attention reflects recent polling that shows competitive races for several statewide offices, including the U.S. Senate contest between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.

The federal operation takes place amid ongoing scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics in the state. In early July, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, an undocumented Mexican national, in north Houston. In late September, ICE officers shot and wounded Wilber Garces Perez, an undocumented Venezuelan driver, in north Austin. About 10 days later, an ICE agent in an unmarked vehicle struck Miguel Parra Hernandez in Houston. Federal authorities stated that officers responded to threats or evasion attempts in each incident, accounts that have been disputed by witnesses and local officials.

Texas has spent approximately $11 billion in state funds on border security through Operation Lone Star. The federal government has approved $7.5 billion to reimburse these costs through a fund established by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In 2024, Texas Military Department officials reported that 17 National Guard members died while assigned to the operation. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas cited racial profiling and noted that nearly 70 percent of related court appearances involved low-level offenses.