Immigrant Detention Sites Secretive Under Mullin, Lawmakers Say

April 8, 2026, 9:28 PM UTC

Two Democratic lawmakers say the Department of Homeland Security has grown more secretive under Secretary Markwayne Mullin, citing deteriorating conditions and limited transparency at detention facilities.

“What is DHS like under this secretary? The same cruelty—more cruelty,” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) said at a press conference Wednesday alongside fellow Texas Democrat Greg Casar after visiting the Dilley Immigration Processing Center near San Antonio.

“Under this new secretary, there’s more secrecy,” Castro added.

Many of lawmakers’ questions are no longer being answered on-site, and officials there simply read from scripts and refer questions to Washington, said Castro, who noted this was ...

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