Trump swears in Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security secretary

President Trump swore in Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security secretary on Tuesday, marking the start of the former senator’s tenure leading the agency responsible for carrying out the administration’s polarizing immigration enforcement policies.

In an Oval Office ceremony, Mr. Mullin said he was “humbled” by the position and vowed never to take it for granted.

“I don’t care what color your state is. I don’t care if you’re red or you’re blue. At the end of the day, my job is to be the Secretary of Homeland Security and to protect everybody the same. And we will do just that,” he said.

Mr. Trump praised his pick for the position, highlighting Mr. Mullin’s career in the House and Senate as a Republican from Oklahoma.

“I have no doubt that as he takes the help of DHS, MarkWayne will fight for Homeland Security and the United States and securing the country and making it really strong, the way it should be,” Mr. Trump said.

The Senate on Monday confirmed Mr. Mullin, 48, for the post in a 54-to-45 vote. Nearly all Republicans and two Democrats voted in support of his nomination. Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, broke from his party and opposed Mr. Mullin, while two Democrats — Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico — supported him.

Mr. Mullin is the first member of Cherokee Nation to serve as a member of a presidential Cabinet. He replaces former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was pushed out after a string of controversies.

Mr. Mullin takes over DHS at a time when the agency is reeling from the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January. He is also taking the reins while thousands of department employees are working without pay because of a partial government shutdown that began Feb. 14 and has caused chaos in long security lines at airports across the country.