Markwayne Mullin clashes with Rosa DeLauro in fiery DHS hearing: ‘Don’t you point your finger at me’

WASHINGTON, DC: A House oversight hearing on the Department of Homeland Security spiraled into a heated confrontation after Rep. Rosa DeLauro and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin repeatedly clashed over immigration policies, forcing the committee chairman to step in and restore order.

The tense exchange unfolded on Thursday, June 25, during a House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing, where DeLauro questioned the Trump administration's border policies.

Rosa DeLauro and Markwayne Mullin exchange heated words over immigration

The hearing took a dramatic turn as DeLauro criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies, saying they resulted in "3,900 children being separated from their families."

Before she could continue, Mullin interrupted her remarks.

"450,000 kids were lost under the Biden administration, and you didn't say a word about that," he said.

The interruption immediately escalated tensions inside the hearing room.

Visibly frustrated, DeLauro pointed toward Mullin and responded, "Mr. Secretary, Mr. Secretary, do not interrupt."

Mullin fired back, "Don't you point your finger at me."

"I will point my finger at you," DeLauro replied, as both continued speaking over one another.

Committee chairman struggled to restore order during the hearing

As the exchange intensified, Mullin accused the Connecticut Democrat of applying different standards to the two administrations.

"Don't be a hypocrite. You should be as upset about the 450,000 kids that were lost [under Biden]," he said.

When DeLauro answered, "I am upset," Mullin continued, saying, "You didn't say a word about it. For four years, you never said a word."

House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei repeatedly attempted to calm the room.

Turning toward Mullin, he began, "Mr. Secretary."

At the same time, DeLauro appealed to the chairman, asking, "Could you put him in place?"

Amodei instead replied, "Well, don't yell at me."

Mullin then added, "You should be put in your place."

Moments later, Amodei struck the gavel and declared, "We are going to have something resembling order here."

He reminded Mullin that there were proper procedures for responding and that the hearing was "not a who can talk louder into the mic."

Rosa DeLauro defended her record as clash continued

Even after the chairman intervened, the disagreement continued.

"I will not sit here and listen to her lie and accuse something this ridiculous," Mullin said.

"Do not accuse me of lying, do not," DeLauro responded.

"Then don't," Mullin replied.

DeLauro then defended her long record on immigration issues.

"There is concern for children across the board," she said. "We care deeply about what is happening to children."

She added that she had personally visited the southern border years earlier and emphasized, "So, I have a long history, Mr. Secretary, in this area. 3,900 kids were separated."

The contentious hearing unfolded as the Supreme Court issued two major rulings affecting the Trump administration's immigration agenda.

The court allowed Homeland Security officials to resume turning back migrants seeking asylum before they enter the United States and also permitted the administration to end Temporary Protected Status for roughly 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians while limiting judicial review of future TPS decisions.