Markwayne Mullin, the new homeland security secretary, has suggested that some major U.S. airports could be stripped of their customs and immigration services.
Mullin, who replaced Kristi Noem in March after she was fired by Donald Trump, is taking particular aim at sanctuary cities with international airports.
“Just one area we may take a hard look at is…some of these cities have international airports,” he told Fox News’ Bret Baier on Monday. “If they’re sanctuary cities, should they really be processing customs into their city?
“Seriously, if they’re 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.”
When asked about whether sanctuary cities with major airports could have their customs services removed, Mullin said that the government needed to start “prioritizing things.”
Mullin went on to claim that the Democratic Party planned to defund Customs and Border Protection, although he referred to the agency as “Customs and Border Patrol.”
“Who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane?” Mullin continued. “I’m going to have to be forced to make hard decisions - who’s willing to work with us and partner with us?”
California Governor Gavin Newsom blasted Mullin on X over the remarks, which he branded “stupid.”
“If you thought the economy was bad with Trump’s war driving prices at the pump up … just wait until international travel is halted at some of the busiest airports in the world,” Newsom wrote. “Talk about a stupid idea (no wonder it’s being considered by the Trump Admin).”
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council and a former immigration lawyer, also criticized Mullin’s suggestion on X.
“Markwayne Mullin floats that his first major move as DHS Secretary might be to massively disrupt international air travel into and out of the United States by pulling customs officers out of cities like New York and Los Angeles, a move that would have international ramifications,” Reichlin-Melnick wrote.
As of August 2025, a total of 12 states, 18 cities, 4 counties and the District of Columbia were recognized as sanctuary jurisdictions by the U.S. Government.
New York City, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco City, Seattle, Philadelphia, Denver, Boston and Chicago were all included in the list. Each of those cities is home to a major airport.
According to Visit California, 20 percent of the 18.18 million people who passed through California’s top ten airports were international passengers.
The DHS has become increasingly controversial during Trump’s second presidency, while under the stewardship of Kristi Noem.
Noem oversaw President Trump’s brutal crackdown on immigration into the United States, which has seen federal agents flooded into cities across the country.
Federal funding for the DHS lapsed on February 14, with Democrats demanding that restrictions be placed on ICE and the CBP in exchange for funding the department. Currently, both ICE and the CBP are drawing on funds from Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The Independent has contacted the DHS for comment.
Oil prices nudge higher amid caution ahead of Trump’s Iran deadline
UK to host Hormuz planning meeting as Trump deadline looms for Iran
US soldier trying to halt wife's deportation after she was detained on Louisiana military base
Trump administration scraps transgender student protections in schools
Tucker Carlson criticizes Trump’s expletive-fueled Easter message threatening Iran
US Marshals waived training rules to deputize Musk’s bodyguards while at DOGE
