Newly installed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin vowed to remove the “worst of the worst” illegal immigrants from California as he met with families whose loved ones were brutally killed by people in the country illegally.
Mullin, 48, met with California “Angel Parents” whose children were killed at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in downtown Los Angeles Friday. The California Post was on hand for the emotional meeting.
The DHS chief, who replaced ousted Kristi Noem, condemned what he described as “a tremendous amount of illegal activity happening right here in LA, plus all across the state.”
In his interview with The Post, Mullin called it “shameful” and “criminal” that California Democrats refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
“They aren’t allowing detainers to be served on criminals,” he said. “These are individuals that have been convicted of a crime, and they’re being released from state prisons or state jails. It’s shameful. I actually think it’s criminal.”
Mullin said local and state cooperation would allow federal authorities to remove dangerous offenders.
“Every single life that’s taken by an illegal is 100% preventable,” he said. “They’re more interested in protecting criminals than law-abiding citizens.”
Agnes Gibboney, 71, of Rancho Cucamonga, tearfully recalled losing her son Ronald Da Silva, 29, who was shot and killed in 2002 by illegal immigrant Luis Humberto Gonzales.
“Every time I go to the cemetery I tell him, ‘I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you,’” she said. “You don’t heal.”
Gibboney also said she recently spoke with President Donald Trump about what she called the state’s “liberal insanity.”
Don Rosenberg, 73, of Westlake Village, described the 2010 death of his son, San Francisco law student Drew Rosenberg, 25, who was killed when Roberto Galo, a Honduran national living in the country illegally and without a driver’s license, struck him while he was riding his motorcycle.
“He backed over him a second time and then went forward over him a third time,” Rosenberg said.
Galo later fled to Mexico before being returned to the U.S. to face justice. He was deported in 2019 after serving 11 years in prison.
“Had he been arrested and deported, my son would be alive,” Rosenberg said. “I don’t care if they haven’t committed a crime — if they’re here illegally, deport them all.”
Angie Morfin, 67, of Salinas, spoke about the 1990 murder of her son Ruben Morfin, 13, who was shot execution-style by Ezequiel Marscal, a Mexican gang member who fled to Mexico.
Mexican authorities declined to extradite Marscal because he faced the death penalty in the U.S. Instead, he served a 20-year sentence in Mexico.
“As a mother, you don’t want people to think that he deserved to die,” Morfin said, adding that her son’s killer “changed my life forever.”
Mullin’s wife of 29 years, Christie, wiped away tears as Morfin spoke. Mullin later described the parents’ testimony as “powerful.”
The former Oklahoma senator accused Democrats of being “anti-police” and supporting “open borders.”
“What separates us from a third-world country is we’re a nation of laws,” Mullin said. “You have these radical left extreme Democrats that are trying to destroy the system.”
Mullin also warned of a “zero tolerance policy” toward anyone interfering with federal agents.
“If you’re going to get in the way of us doing our job, we’re going to arrest you along with the criminal that we’re going after,” he said.
The Homeland Security secretary criticized conditions in Los Angeles, citing homelessness, drug use and encampments, while arguing that stronger enforcement could improve public safety.
“Your city doesn’t have to be like that,” Mullin said.
Despite policy differences, Mullin said he intends to work with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as officials prepare for upcoming international events, including the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
“I may not agree with all of her policies, but I have to set those aside,” Mullin said. “Right now, we’re working on FIFA … and then we have to focus on the 2028 Olympics.”
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