DHS Secretary Proposes Removing Customs from Sanctuary City Airports

Mullin's plan could effectively block international travel to cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:35pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of an airport terminal entrance with a lone traveler standing outside, conveying the sense of disruption and isolation that could result from the proposed Customs withdrawal from sanctuary cities.The proposed removal of Customs from sanctuary city airports could strand international travelers and disrupt commerce, escalating the clash between federal and local authorities over immigration policy.New Orleans Today

Newly confirmed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has proposed removing Customs and Border Protection officers from international airports located in sanctuary cities. Mullin argued that cities actively obstructing federal immigration enforcement should not be allowed to process international arrivals, as this would create consequences for their sanctuary city policies.

Why it matters

Mullin's proposal escalates the ongoing debate over sanctuary cities and federal immigration enforcement. By threatening to pull Customs from sanctuary city airports, the administration is seeking to pressure these localities to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. This move could have significant economic and logistical impacts on the affected cities.

The details

In an interview with Fox News, Mullin floated the idea of removing CBP officers from international airports in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and others. Without federal customs clearance, these airports would be unable to process international arrivals, effectively shutting down international travel to those cities. Mullin argued that sanctuary cities cannot expect to receive federal cooperation at their airports if they refuse to enforce immigration laws.

  • Mullin made the proposal just days after being confirmed as the new DHS Secretary.

The players

Markwayne Mullin

The newly confirmed Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who has taken an aggressive stance against sanctuary cities.

Bret Baier

The Fox News host who interviewed Mullin and discussed the proposal to remove Customs from sanctuary city airports.

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What they’re saying

“If they are a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city? Seriously, if they are a sanctuary city and they are 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.”

— Markwayne Mullin, DHS Secretary

What’s next

The administration will need to determine how seriously to pursue this proposal and whether it has the legal authority to unilaterally remove Customs from sanctuary city airports.

The takeaway

Mullin's proposal represents an escalation in the ongoing battle between the federal government and sanctuary cities over immigration enforcement. By threatening to cut off international travel to these cities, the administration is seeking to force them to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, raising questions about the balance of power between local and federal jurisdictions.