US Senate Confirms Mullin As New Homeland Security Secretary

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Bernama-dpa) -- The US Senate on Monday confirmed Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), voting 54-45 to approve the 48-year-old, reported German news agency dpa.

Mullin, a Republican, previously served 10 years in the US House of Representatives and had been a senator for three years. 

His confirmation follows US President Donald Trump's unexpected dismissal of Kristi Noem as DHS secretary earlier this month and his nomination of Mullin as her successor.

Noem, once Trump's preferred candidate for the post, drew controversy for the department's aggressive immigration enforcement. 

She had recently come under pressure over the aggressive operations of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), which is part of the DHS. Earlier this year, two US citizens were killed by ICE officers in separate shootings. 

Noem's public image was further dented by a costly advertising campaign and a reported affair with an aide.

Mullin is viewed as a pragmatic deal-maker and has signalled he will adopt a more moderate tone than his predecessor. In hearings before his confirmation, he acknowledged a friendship with Noem but said their leadership styles differ. 

He now faces the challenge of implementing Trump's hardline deportation policies while attempting to avoid public backlash.

--BERNAMA-dpa