Milan, Missouri, in north-central Sullivan County, is a community shaped in part by immigration. About 46% of residents identify as Latino, and more than 28% were born outside the United States. Downtown Milan is seen here on Friday, February 27, 2026. photo by Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest
Eliseo Affholter arrived in the United States at age 13 and was later adopted by a U.S. citizen. On Feb. 24, an ICE agent broke his phone camera, according to Affholter, after he was stopped and questioned about his nationality in Milan, Missouri. photo taken Feb. 27, 2026. photo by Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest
Milan, Missouri, in north-central Sullivan County, is a community shaped in part by immigration. About 46% of residents identify as Latino, and more than 28% were born outside the United States. Downtown Milan seen here on Feb. 27, 2026. photo by Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest
President Donald Trump has tapped Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to serve as the next Homeland Security Secretary after firing Kristi Noem. The first-term Republican, a former mixed martial arts fighter turned businessman, now faces Senate confirmation before taking charge of the vast department. If approved, Mullin would become the second homeland security chief in Trump's second administration. He arrives with a reputation for blunt rhetoric and staunch loyalty to the president's immigration agenda. Mullin has praised federal immigration enforcement and defended agents carrying out arrests of undocumented migrants. He has also condemned the partial government shutdown that allowed funding for the homeland security department to lapse. In interviews, Mullin argued Democrats were staging political theatre and insisted immigration officers should continue doing their jobs. The department he hopes to lead has faced mounting scrutiny after two US citizens were killed by federal immigration officials in Minnesota. Mullin previously defended agents involved in such operations, calling them patriots performing a dangerous job. His fiery image grew after he challenged a powerful union leader to a fight during a heated Senate hearing. Before politics, Mullin helped expand his family's plumbing company while raising six children with his wife and building name recognition.
The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Program costs taxpayers about $50 million annually
Eliseo Affholter arrived in the United States at age 13 and was later adopted by a U.S. citizen. On Feb. 24, an ICE agent broke his phone camera, according to Affholter, after he was stopped and questioned about his nationality in Milan, Missouri. photo taken Feb. 27, 2026. photo by Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest
Milan, Missouri, in north-central Sullivan County, is a community shaped in part by immigration. About 46% of residents identify as Latino, and more than 28% were born outside the United States. Downtown Milan seen here on Feb. 27, 2026. photo by Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest
Milan, Missouri, in north-central Sullivan County, is a community shaped in part by immigration. About 46% of residents identify as Latino, and more than 28% were born outside the United States. Downtown Milan is seen here on Friday, February 27, 2026. photo by Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest
