Eyeing airports in so-called sanctuary cities, DHS’ Mullin ups the ante with new threats
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has spent months talking about removing federal personnel from airports in so-called sanctuary cities, and by all appearances, the Oklahoma Republican is increasingly serious about the idea. During a Fox News appearance on Thursday, he described a potential scenario in which he’s “gonna have to pull” customs officials from these airports.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin: “This may affect international flights coming in and out of their airports because I’m gonna have to pull CBP officers out of being able to process international flights and put them helping our ICE agents.”— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-05-28T12:16:12.451Z
This was hardly the first such threat. Earlier in the week, Mullin also said he and his administration colleagues are “currently drawing up plans” to stop “processing international flights” into these cities. (“Sanctuary cities” refers to areas in which local governments limit police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.)
The public comments came on the heels of multiple reports that the DHS secretary privately told U.S. travel executives that his department was prepared to stop customs and immigration processing for international travelers in these cities. Soon after, the U.S. Travel Association said it had also spoken to the secretary and that he told the trade group’s representatives he’s serious about these plans.
What’s more, it’s not just Mullin. On Thursday, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, still engaged in a shameless audition to receive a permanent nomination from Donald Trump, also appeared on Fox News and defended the DHS threats.
A day later, Republican Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana also offered his enthusiastic support for the tactic.
Banks: “It’s a great idea, blocking int’l flights into sanctuary cities harboring