A Fox News host has issued a warning to former President Donald Trump, suggesting that his voters might not turn out for the November midterms if the administration does not enact stricter deportation policies. Tomi Lahren voiced these concerns on X, formerly Twitter, reacting to comments made by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on CNN's "State of the Union."
In a clip shared by Lahren, Mullin stated that the DHS would not commit to mass deportations of the approximately 350,000 Haitians who are set to lose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) next year. Instead, he outlined that these individuals would have several options, including applying for permanent residency, seeking temporary visas, or accepting assistance to return to their home country. "We will actually give you a plane ticket, plus roughly $2,100, to help you re-establish when you get there," Mullin explained.
Lahren, a vocal advocate for Trump's proposed immigration measures, expressed dissatisfaction with this approach. She drew a parallel to the administration's handling of promised voter ID requirements, questioning the efficacy of electing Republicans if such key promises are not fulfilled. "Don't be surprised when conservatives stay home in November. I'm not advocating for it but I won't be surprised," Lahren stated on X.
The Supreme Court recently granted the administration the authority to end TPS for hundreds of thousands of Haitians. TPS was initially granted to Haitians in 2010 following a devastating earthquake. Mullin, who replaced Kristi Noem as DHS head last month, emphasized that TPS is temporary by nature and that individuals have had opportunities to pursue other legal statuses during their time in the U.S.
Immigrants from 11 other countries also currently hold TPS, with their protections set to expire in February under the policy originally signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. Congress established the TPS qualification in 1990 to offer short-term humanitarian relief to individuals unable to return safely to their home countries, as noted in the Supreme Court's ruling.