A heated exchange erupted during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing Thursday after a Democratic lawmaker questioned the Trump administration over family separations at the border, prompting a sharp rebuttal from the administration's witness over the Biden administration's handling of migrant children.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) raised the issue of children separated from their families during President Donald Trump's first term, arguing that the administration's immigration policies had caused lasting harm. Before she could finish her line of questioning, the administration official pushed back by shifting the focus to the Biden administration's record on unaccompanied migrant children.
"Don't you point your finger at me!"
A heated congressional hearing erupted into a fierce shouting match between DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Dem Rep. Rosa DeLauro over immigration policies and child separation.
Mullin blasted DeLauro as a "hypocrite" for bringing up… pic.twitter.com/gSR2SDrH5q
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 25, 2026
"450,000 kids were lost during the Biden administration; you didn't say a word about it," he responded, referring to reports and investigations concerning difficulties in maintaining contact with some unaccompanied migrant children after they were released to sponsors.
The exchange quickly became one of the hearing's most contentious moments.
"Mr. Secretary, do not interrupt!" DeLauro replied, pointing toward the witness as tensions escalated.
He answered just as forcefully, telling her, "Don't you point your finger at me. Don't be a hypocrite."
"I will point my finger at you," DeLauro shot back.
"Don't you be a hypocrite then. You should be as upset about the 450,000 kids," he responded, arguing that Democrats had failed to show the same level of concern over the Biden administration's handling of migrant children.
"You didn't say a word about it! For four years, you never said a word!"
As the back-and-forth continued, DeLauro appealed to Committee Chairman Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) to intervene.
"Could you put him in his place?" she asked.
Amodei tried to calm the situation, replying, "Don't yell at me. I'm the good guy."
“You should be put in your place.” 🤣 https://t.co/UGJb6tZuXo
— Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) June 25, 2026
The witness answered with one more jab: "You should be put in your place."
After order was restored, Amodei offered the witness additional time to respond at the end of the questioning if he wished. He explained that he objected to what he viewed as misleading claims being made for political effect. DeLauro rejected the accusation, insisting she had not lied and emphasizing that she cared deeply about the welfare of children.