Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has accused federal judges appointed by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden of being "almost impossible" for the Trump administration to work with on immigration cases, escalating tensions between the administration and the judiciary. Speaking at the RNC Midterm Convention, Mullin argued that while officials can generally cooperate with most judges, those appointed under Biden in particular have obstructed immigration enforcement, even as similar legal battles over birthright citizenship and visa policy continue to play out in the courts.

Mullin cited specific rulings, including Biden-appointed Judge Brian Murphy blocking the end of temporary protected status for more than 5,000 Ethiopians in April, and Judge Deborah Boardman halting enforcement of Trump's birthright citizenship order in September. He also criticised Democratic-led states such as Virginia for scaling back cooperation with immigration authorities, referencing Governor Abigail Spanberger's decision to end 287(g) agreements with ICE, and claimed, without providing independent verification, that half of recent deaths in Fairfax County involved an "illegal" perpetrator. Mullin said the administration would not force federal assistance on reluctant blue cities but insisted DHS remained ready to help communities that requested it.