FOREST HEIGHTS, Md. (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Monday that he and President Donald Trump haven’t yet discussed any concrete immigration policy changes in the aftermath of the midterm elections as the president shifts his tone on deportations and says he's open to working with Democrats on the issue.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference near Washington, D.C., Mullin also said he is strongly opposed to any amnesty for people living in the U.S. illegally — long a red line for Republicans that has contributed to the intractableness of the immigration issue.
The midterms highlighted voters' disaffection toward the administration's hard-line immigration enforcement activities and Trump has since said not only that he could work with Democrats on immigration but also, during an interview with “60 Minutes” Sunday, said that his deportation policy was too aggressive for voters.
Mullin on Monday reiterated Trump's willingness to work with Democrats on the issue.
Mullin, who was a senator and house representative before becoming Trump’s Homeland Security secretary earlier this year, said after the election he’s been fielding calls from Democrats that he worked with in Congress on bipartisan issues.
“I’ve let the president know that those calls are coming in. And the president has said, you know, let’s start working with them and then let’s meet at some point. So that’s the extent of the conversation,” Mullin said in a briefing with reporters. “We haven’t had any conversation just on policy.”
Trump since the election has elevated Stephen Miller, the key architect of his immigration crackdown, to be his chief of staff, raising questions about how cooperation with Democrats might look so long as enforcement remains strict. Mullin called him in a post on social media last week an “excellent choice.”
Mullin, who said he worked with Democrats while he was in Congress including on immigration reform, said he thought a bipartisan approach was the only way to get anything done. But the secretary also pushed back decisively against any type of agreement that would include amnesty for people living illegally in the U.S.
“I was working on immigration reform when I was in the House and when I was in the Senate. I think the only way you can actually get it is by a bipartisan approach. But amnesty's never going to be a solution. We’re never gonna allow amnesty to happen. So that’s a full stop,” said Mullin.
The Homeland Security secretary raised the issue of DACA — a form of protection from deportation for children brought to the country illegally by their parents. He said figuring out a way to legalize their status would be up to Congress.
“Now, if we wanna have an immigration reform to where we can look at DACA and figure out a way that these individuals can become maybe legal permanent citizens or something like this, that’ll be up to Congress to do that,” Mullin said.
Mullin spoke on the sidelines of a conference about drones and counter-drone technologies in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, speaks at a forum to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in drone security, at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, speaks at a forum to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in drone security, at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, speaks at a forum to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in drone security, at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The two big additions the San Francisco 49ers made to their starting defense since coming back from the bye helped them deliver the type of defensive performance they will need to make a playoff run.
With star defensive end Nick Bosa back after missing five games because of a calf injury and DeForest Buckner playing his first game since being traded back to the 49ers during the bye week, San Francisco dominated defensively in a 38-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
“Those are two super disruptive players for our D-line and the offense has to have a plan for them at all times,” linebacker Fred Warner said about Bosa and Buckner. “It frees up a lot of things for the rest of the defense.”
While Bosa and Buckner didn't make many splash plays, their presence helped the defense deliver a lot.
The Niners (7-1) generated five takeaways in a game for the first time in nearly 12 years. All five came in the second half, starting with a pick-6 by rookie Jaden Dugger on the first snap of the third quarter.
San Francisco ended the game with takeaways on the final four drives, with Warner forcing a fumble and recovering one, while Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha had interceptions.
The 49ers also held Las Vegas to 24 yards rushing for the lowest total they allowed in a game since holding Atlanta to 17 yards on Nov. 8, 2015.
That's the formula they will need to replicate on defense down the stretch.
“We have the guys to do it,” Bosa said. “We're going to keep getting better. ... It's great to have (Buckner) back and we have the guys to do it.”
Buckner played his first game for the Niners since the Super Bowl following the 2019 season. He was traded the following offseason to Indianapolis and returned Oct. 27 when he was acquired from the Colts for a fourth-round draft pick.
Buckner had two quarterback hits and got one of the loudest cheers during pregame introductions.
“I definitely had some butterflies today,” he said. “Obviously, my first game being back, I was definitely nervous. I just had to tell myself, ‘Just go out there and play football.’”
Generating takeaways. After back-to-back games with no takeaways, the 49ers had five in a game for the first time since Nov. 16, 2014, against the Giants.
Guarding tight ends. The 49ers allowed 10 catches for 148 yards to Las Vegas tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. That was the second-most yards they allowed to opposing tight ends in the last 19 seasons behind the 172 against Arizona on Dec. 17, 2023.
WR Jordan Watkins. With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel sidelined, Watkins came through with four catches for 86 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown. Watkins has seven catches for 142 yards in his past two games. The 2025 fourth-round pick had only five catches for 82 yards in his career before that.
“J-Wat's done a good job with the opportunity that he's been given,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “If he's got a one-on-one matchup, I'm not going to shy it down.”
Kick coverage unit. The Niners allowed a 54-yard kick return by Dylan Laube that set up a field goal. San Francisco has allowed the fourth-highest return average this season (27.8 yards per return) and the sixth-worst average starting field position after kickoffs (32).
DT Gracen Halton will miss the rest of the season after breaking his ankle. ... Green (back) and CB Deommodore Lenoir (foot) left the game and are day to day. … WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and DT C.J. West (knee) are expected back at practice Wednesday. … WR Mike Evans (Achilles tendinitis) won’t practice Wednesday but hasn’t been ruled out this week.
18 — Christian McCaffrey extended his record with his 18th career game with at least one touchdown run and catch. Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk is second with 15.
The 49ers visit Dallas on Sunday in search of the team's second 8-1 start to a season in the last 15 years. They also did it in 2019 on the way to the Super Bowl.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) celebrates next to linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) after forcing a fumble, which the 49ers recovered, against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) gestures after returning an interception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes as San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
