New Homeland Security leader visits Astoria to view Coast Guard facilities, honor rescue swimmer

By KATIE FRANKOWICZ/KMUN Radio

ASTORIA — Amid an ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown and heightened tensions over immigration enforcement, newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stopped in Astoria on Wednesday and toured Coast Guard facilities.

Mullin visited U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria in Oregon and the Cape Disappointment Motor Lifeboat School in Washington. With him were Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., and Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday.

Social media posts from Mullin said he was there to honor Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers, a rescue swimmer who died March 5 from injuries he sustained during a rescue from a commercial ship off northwest Washington in late February.

“We toured the world class rescue facilities and met with the fearless men and women who protect our maritime borders,” Mullin’s post reads. “Thanks for keeping our country safe.”

According to Gluesenkamp Perez, the tours were intended to support the Coast Guard’s mission and better understand its needs. The Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security.

In a statement, Gluesenkamp Perez said that the Coast Guard has not been treated with the same respect or resources as other branches of the military. She said she is also looking for answers following Jaggers’ death.

“We need to understand the circumstances of his death and take steps to make sure it never happens again,” she said. “I’m grateful that Secretary Mullin agrees with me about the urgency of this and made a visit here to these Coast Guard stations a priority in the days since he was sworn in as the new leader of DHS.”

Mullin also visited the Fort George Brewery in downtown Astoria on Wednesday evening for a Coast Guard event to honor Jaggers. Mullin’s visit — specifically news of his presence at Fort George — sparked concern and anger among local activists.

Zack O’Connor, a senior vice president at Fort George, said Fort George staff did not realize Mullin would be at the brewery Wednesday. He said the Coast Guard had reached out to Fort George to host an event to commemorate Jaggers. Coast Guard representatives told Fort George staff there would be additional security because high ranking Coast Guard officials would be in attendance.

On the day of the event, there was far more security than O’Connor expected. When Mullin arrived, an employee recognized him and alerted O’Connor. Together they looked up Mullin’s photo and confirmed it was him.  O’Connor said Mullin was in the brewery for about 20 minutes. He spoke briefly with some people in attendance and then left without eating or drinking anything.

“We really appreciate the Coast Guard and what they do for this community,” O’Connor said. “When they ask us if we can host them for an important event… we’re going to be there for them. And outside of that we just try to stay focused on making beer and being good stewards of our community.”