Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin faced sharp questioning from senators on Tuesday over whether the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under his leadership would comply with court orders, amid concerns about judicial decisions affecting immigration enforcement.

During a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) pressed Mullin on the department’s stance following a recent report revealing that federal judges had ruled in over 10,000 cases that immigration officers unlawfully detained migrants without allowing them to contest their detention. Murphy sought clear assurance that DHS would adhere to such court rulings.

Mullin declined to give a definitive answer, instead accusing some federal judges of turning legal decisions into political statements. He suggested that these judges see themselves “above the law,” contributing to a pattern where lower court rulings are frequently overturned by higher courts. “If we didn’t think the courts were politicized, I would be able to answer that,” Mullin said, while insisting he would never violate the Constitution.

Senator Murphy expressed alarm at Mullin’s reluctance, warning that the lack of commitment to obey judicial rulings should concern lawmakers from both parties. Mullin responded by emphasizing worries about the frequency of court decisions being overturned, framing this as indicative of political bias rather than legal interpretation.

The hearing was the first of two days of testimony in support of a proposed $70 billion increase in DHS funding, included in a broader Republican budget plan that faces opposition from Democrats and challenges securing unanimous GOP backing. Mullin is scheduled to appear before the House Committee on Homeland Security for a similar hearing on Wednesday.

Republican members at the Senate hearing lauded Mullin for stepping into the DHS leadership role in March after President Donald Trump dismissed his predecessor, Kristi L. Noem. The agency had been grappling with a 76-day partial shutdown at the time. Since then, Republicans successfully pushed through funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol as part of a reconciliation bill aimed at reinforcing border security amid ongoing political debate over immigration policies.