Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was accused of parroting a “racist” comment about migrants Wednesday when he said the United States only wants “the right kind of immigrants” in the country.

Mullin, who recently replaced Kristi Noem, raised familiar criticisms about the previous administration allowing immigrants into the country, saying those with criminal records were permitted to reside. He complained of the high cost associated with deporting immigrants because the U.S. offers everyone due process – or the right a fair hearing.

“But the problem is we want immigration, we want legal immigration, people that want to make the country stronger, we’re a nation of immigrants, we understand that,” Mullin told Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

Ingraham interjected, “The right kind of immigrants.”

“But the right kind of immigrants, that’s right,” Mullin said in agreement.

Mullin did not specify what he meant by “the right kind” of immigrants during the show, though he complained about those who “take advantage of the United States’s generosity.”

When asked for clarity, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent that Mullin was referring to “legal ones” when referring to the “right kind of immigrants.”

While Mullin and other administration officials often claim they want immigrants to enter the U.S. legally, many of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have impacted methods of legal immigration.

A recent analysis from the CATO Institute found that the president’s crackdown on the ability to claim refugee and asylum, implementation of travel bans and regulations on student and H-1B employment visas led to a larger decrease in legal immigration than illegal immigration.

The administration’s immigration policies have disproportionately impacted people of color with travel bans on nearly a dozen African countries, the end of asylum claims at the U.S.–Mexico border, immigration agents using racial profiling, and removing protected status for people from Haiti, Myanmar, Honduras, Venezuela and Ethiopia, among other countries.

As a result, Mullin’s claim about “the right kind of immigrants” coming into the U.S. was interpreted as a dog whistle for a preference over white immigrants.

“Why don’t they just say ‘white’?” X user Michael Freeman wrote.

Nick, another X user, replied: “Today’s blatant racism…. by ‘the right kind of immigrants’ they mean white people. I remember the days when the republicans used dog whistles. Those days are long gone.”

“This is just disgustingly racist,” X user Shawn wrote.

While those opposed to the harsh immigration policies criticized Mullin’s comments, some MAGA voters disagreed with Mullin about wanting “the right kind of immigrants” in the U.S. – saying they didn’t want any form of immigration.

Comments and reports on conservative commentator Eric Daugherty’s X post were flooded with people displeased with the secretary’s claim about legal immigration.