Michelle Hackman

Covering immigration and DHS for the @WSJ. forgetful tweeter. Please Get in touch directly: [email protected] or MHackman.59 on signal

[Michelle Hackman @MHackman]

Hello! 👋🏼 I'm a reporter for the @WSJ covering immigration. If you work in/with the government and have something to share with a reporter, you can reach me securely on signal at mhackman.59

I take the safety of sources extremely seriously. No one needs to know we talked

[Marianne LeVine @marianne_levine]

The president is increasingly frustrated with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, after he made a series of off-message remarks recently that angered many of the president’s outside allies, w/ @mhackman https://t.co/1fzHj8MJdK

[Marianne LeVine @marianne_levine]

During a closed-door briefing last week with senior DHS officials, Sen. Rand Paul said he wouldn't hold a hearing on Trump's ICE nominee until he got more information on the shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year, w/ @mhackman https://t.co/dysOCNDjxO

[Anna Giaritelli @Anna_Giaritelli]

NEW: Number of student visas that Trump's State Dept has issued to foreign students is down significantly following White House crackdown.

Visas to Indian students are down 60% and 46% for Chinese students from May-Aug. 2025, compared to 2017, per Center for Immigration Studies.

[Michelle Hackman @MHackman]

A must read by colleagues @HannaCritch and @shaneshifflett

[Hannah Critchfield @HannaCritch]

ICE is watching social media 24/7—in search of activity that could "disrupt" enforcement or threaten agents.

Contractors provide daily reports, at times detailing Americans' names, locations, history & more.

DHS has investigated 100s.

w/ @shaneshifflett
https://t.co/tRV8rmNgGl

[Liz Essley Whyte @l_e_whyte]

Stop what you are doing and read this incredible story on Trump’s fundraising by my colleagues @jdawsey1 @AnnieLinskey @DanaMattioli @EmilyGlazer

Gift link
https://t.co/jEDBWXAF1t

[Michelle Hackman @MHackman]

Hello hello! I am an immigration reporter for the @wsj. I mostly forget to tweet, but I am always looking for tips and story ideas! If you work in/with the Trump administration and have a good story to share, please send me a DM or be in touch on signal at Mhackman.59

[Michelle Hackman @MHackman]

NEW from me: The Trump administration is weighing attaching a $100,000 fee to optional practical training, the program that allows international students to work on their student visas for a time after graduation. Gift link: https://t.co/TwjRJUne1R

[Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @ReichlinMelnick]

NEW: @StateDept finalized a rule implementing a "visa bond" program for tourist/business visitor visas, to be imposed on a list of countries TBD.

Applicants for B1/B2 visas from those countries will have to pay a $10k, $15k, or $20k bond, to be paid back once the visa expires.

[Michelle Hackman @MHackman]

NEW from me: The Trump administration is weighing attaching a $100,000 fee to optional practical training, the program that allows international students to work on their student visas for a time after graduation. Gift link: https://t.co/TwjRJUne1R

[Michelle Hackman @MHackman]

NEW: The Trump administration is considering placing a bond of $100,000 on some green-card seekers applying at U.S. consulates abroad, according to people familiar with the plans. W/@RobbieGramer and @alexbward https://t.co/18bftbHYGG via @WSJ

[Liz Essley Whyte @l_e_whyte]

"Mullin has told associates that, ahead of November, his primary marching orders are to lower his agency’s profile and avoid bad press so the issue of immigration recedes in the public consciousness" https://t.co/xcsFuvWDRh

[Josh Dawsey @jdawsey1]

The new DHS boss is trying to clean house — and make big changes at DHS, with an eye toward lowering the profile of the agency. Our latest with a free link: https://t.co/SKvcLW0tDQ

[Marianne LeVine @marianne_levine]

The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general has launched a probe into the $38 billion warehouse-to-detention program championed by former Secretary Kristi Noem from @tparti @MHackman @shaneshifflett https://t.co/32pKHYqC7T via @WSJ

[Weijia Jiang @weijia]

The Hilton donated the ~2600 dinners that went unserved at WHCD. They freeze dried the steak and lobster for longer shelf life before giving them to 2 shelters for abused women and children. HUGE thank you to the staff that worked through the night under terrible circumstances.

[Vera Bergengruen @VeraMBergen]

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has continued using a waterfront house on a military base in Washington, D.C., that she took over as a cabinet member @marianne_levine @tparti @MHackman https://t.co/Bde1sCRHXk

[Dave Brown @dave_brown24]

Trump may have ousted Kristi Noem from DHS, but his administration is hanging onto the controversial $70 million jet she leased during her tenure.

The administration plans to use the plane, which is nicer than most other government jets, for travel by select Cabinet secretaries. First lady Melania Trump’s office would also have access to the jet https://t.co/GRysObIXeR @MHackman @jdawsey1

[Nick Miroff @NickMiroff]

Just before Kristi Noem left DHS last month her team massively overpaid for an empty Salt Lake City warehouse it plans to convert into an ICE detention center. "Crazy," one broker told me. The deal--and 10 other recent warehouse purchases--are now under investigation.

[Bill Melugin @BillMelugin_]

NEW: In interview w/ colleague @BretBaier, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin floats the idea of stripping CBP/customs officers from airports in large sanctuary cities as retaliation for refusing to cooperate with the federal government. International travelers wouldn’t be able to fly into airports and leave without going through customs.

Mullin points out that Democrats are also refusing to fund CBP.

“It’s something we’re looking at,” Mullin said.

[Roger Parloff @rparloff]

Inspector general probing network of aides at Noem’s DHS. One FEMA contractor was allegedly getting $19K a week—~1M a year. (Don’t confuse this gift @WSJ article about possible corruption at DHS from one last week about possible corruption at DOJ.)
1/2
https://t.co/pniPzOZkyF

[Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney]

Mullin claimed that the House sent him on a classified trip that only four people knew about. When Paul and Peters pressed him on which agency classified it, it led to this exchange:

MULLIN: It wasn’t an agency. It was done here, well, in the House at the time.

PETERS: The House classified it?

MULLIN: I’m assuming.

Except the House doesn't have that power. All classification authority flows from the president/executive.

[Hannah Brandt @HannahBrandt_TV]

Sen. Rand Paul tells us he’s a no vote on Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation to lead DHS. The two have personal drama after Mullin called Paul a snake in the aftermath of a 2017 attack.

Here’s what he had to say about his vote: