President Donald Trump’s administration has delivered a clear message following the November 3 midterm elections: Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue carrying out deportations, even as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed the administration’s position in a public statement following the election results.
“Deportations will continue,” Mullin declared.
The announcement comes as the White House prepares to operate under divided government for the final two years of Trump’s second term.
Democrats won control of the House and Senate, giving them new authority over congressional committees, oversight hearings, and future federal appropriations.
But the election did not transfer control of the Department of Homeland Security or ICE to Congress.
Those agencies remain within the executive branch, operating under applicable federal law and the administration’s direction.
Trump will continue exercising his constitutional and statutory responsibilities over immigration enforcement.
That reality places significant limits on how quickly an incoming congressional majority could change the administration’s existing policies.
The administration’s deportation program also rests on funding approved while Republicans controlled Congress.
In 2025, Congress enacted approximately $150 billion in immigration-related funding covering enforcement personnel, detention facilities, border infrastructure, and associated operations.
That funding was intended to expand the government’s ability to carry out immigration enforcement over multiple years.
A change in congressional control does not automatically cancel money already provided under law.
Alterations to existing statutory funding arrangements would require additional lawful action.
The funding is therefore an important factor in the administration’s ability to maintain enforcement operations.
ICE officers will continue carrying out responsibilities assigned to the agency, including identifying, detaining, and removing individuals who are legally subject to deportation.
Those actions must remain consistent with immigration statutes, court orders, and applicable constitutional protections.
The president’s authority does not eliminate those requirements, but the midterm election does not suspend federal immigration law either.
That distinction is central to the administration’s post-election message.
Trump has also reinforced his White House leadership team.
Following the election, the president promoted senior immigration adviser Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff.
Miller has been closely associated with the development and coordination of Trump’s immigration policies.
His promotion places an official experienced in those priorities in one of the administration’s most influential positions.
The personnel decision provides another indication that the White House intends to maintain continuity in immigration enforcement.
The administration has also been preparing additional policy actions through existing executive authorities.
Reuters reported that senior officials had been reviewing possible measures involving immigration and visa restrictions in anticipation of divided government.
Those actions would need to comply with applicable statutes and remain subject to judicial review.
Nevertheless, they demonstrate that the executive branch can continue making lawful administrative decisions without waiting for Congress to pass new legislation.
The White House has separately indicated that it intends to defend the administration’s existing policy gains.
That includes border security, enforcement operations, and efforts to expand the resources available to immigration officers.
The president has also made clear that he will retain control over his signature on future legislation.
Before the midterms, Trump discussed how he would approach an opposition-controlled Congress.
“I guess I’ll become Mr. Veto,” he said.
He added, “I’m not going to let them ruin it.”
The statement reflects the president’s constitutional authority to reject bills passed by Congress.
Overriding a presidential veto ordinarily requires two-thirds majorities in both chambers.
The newly elected Democrats do not automatically possess the votes needed to enact legislation over Trump’s objections.
That means changes to immigration statutes or funding could require negotiations with the White House.
Trump has indicated that he is willing to consider such negotiations.
Following the election, the president discussed the possibility of working with congressional Democrats on immigration legislation.
“We can work with them on immigration, I think,” he said.
The statement did not announce a completed agreement or identify specific immigration policies the administration had agreed to change.
It also did not suggest that ICE would suspend deportations while lawmakers held discussions.
Mullin’s subsequent declaration established the administration’s immediate operational position.
The White House can consider legislative proposals while federal agencies continue enforcing the law.
The incoming congressional leadership will be able to examine immigration spending and agency operations.
Committees may request records, question officials, and investigate how enforcement programs are carried out.
However, congressional oversight is distinct from directing individual ICE operations.
Investigations do not, by themselves, repeal federal statutes or eliminate the authority granted to executive agencies.
The administration will remain responsible for implementing immigration law while responding to lawful oversight demands.
