Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is signaling that sanctuary cities hosting international airports could see their federal customs operations curtailed if they refuse to cooperate on immigration enforcement beyond the terminal doors.
According to The Post Millennial, Mullin argued that cities cannot have it both waysbenefiting from international travel and federal resources while simultaneously undermining federal immigration law once foreign nationals enter the country.
"One area we may take a hard look at is some of these cities have international airports. If they are sanctuary cities, should they really be processing customs into their city?" he asked, underscoring the growing tension between federal authorities and left-leaning jurisdictions that shield illegal immigrants from enforcement.
Mullin continued, "Seriously, If theyre a sanctuary city and they're receiving international flights, and we're asking them to partner with us at the airport, but once they walk out of the airport, they're not going to enforce immigration policy, maybe we need to have a really hard look at that, because we need to focus on cities that want to work with us."
Pressed on whether this meant customs operations at airports in sanctuary jurisdictions could be at risk, he responded, "Well, I'm saying we're gonna have to start prioritizing things at some point. Right now, remember, the Democrats are wanting to defund Customs and Border Patrol. Well, who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane?"
The secretary framed the issue as a matter of responsible stewardship of limited resources in the face of open-borders policies pushed by Democrats and progressive city leaders.
"So I'm gonna have to be forced to make hard decisions, who's willing to work with us and partner with us? Once again, I'm not going outside the policies that Congress passed for me, and we're not trying to push those, but we're saying that you got to partner with us," he added, making clear that cooperation with federal law is the baseline, not an optional courtesy.
Mullin was confirmed as DHS secretary in late March after the ouster of Kristi Noem, stepping into the role amid a weeks-long shutdown of his department as Congress stalled on funding.
Among the agencies hit by the lapse was the TSA, which saw hours-long security lines at airports, a visible reminder of what happens when Washington gridlock collides with national security.
In response, President Donald Trump ordered ICE personnel to assist at airports to relieve the pressure on TSA checkpoints.
He also signed an order directing DHS to pay TSA agents, with DHS and ICE ultimately funded under the One Big Beautiful Bill he approved in August, a move that underscored his administrations emphasis on border security and law enforcement over sanctuary city politics.
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