The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Markwayne Mullin, defended the immigration strategy of Donald Trump's government and assured that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) “is intensifying surveillance on the streets,” despite the growing controversy over two fatal shootings that occurred in less than a week during agency operations.

During a question and answer session with journalists, Mullin was asked how the ICE agents involved in the deaths of Lorenzo Salgado and Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero will be held accountable. However, he avoided responding directly to both cases.

Instead, he stated that “everyone will be held accountable” and maintained that his responsibility is to “enforce our nation's laws,” both within DHS and against criminals. Immediately afterwards, he reiterated that ICE will continue to strengthen surveillance on the streets.

Two cases that increase pressure on ICE

Mullin's statements come amid growing scrutiny of the Trump administration's immigration operations.

On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado, a 52-year-old Mexican immigrant, died after being shot by an ICE agent while on his way to work in Houston. Days later, on July 13, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian immigrant, died under similar circumstances during an operation in Maine.

In both cases, the official versions have been questioned by family members, lawyers and witnesses, who demand independent investigations and accountability for the use of lethal force.

Trump ordered traffic stops to continue

Following both shootings, DHS announced that it would temporarily suspend traffic stops conducted by ICE to review its protocols and strengthen agent training.

However, the pause lasted only a few hours. President Donald Trump intervened publicly to ask that these operations continue.

“We cannot give up one of ICE's most important and effective crime-fighting tools,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social network.