Administration

Mullin to cities with international airports: ‘You’ve got to partner with us’

Comments:

by Ashleigh Fields - 04/06/26 8:31 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

by Ashleigh Fields - 04/06/26 8:31 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Monday questioned whether cities with international airports that do not work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should face repercussions, such as losing access to customs processing.

“If they’re a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into — into their city?” Mullin, whom the Senate recently confirmed as DHS secretary, said during an appearance on Fox News’s “Special Report.”

“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 have a really hard look at that, because we need to focus on cities that want to work with us,” he added.

His comments align with those of his predecessor, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who led immigration enforcement operations in blue-led cities and publicly identified 500 cities, counties, and states that are allegedly obstructing the enforcement of immigration laws.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a warning letter to 32 “sanctuary jurisdictions” last August urging them to comply with federal law or face repercussions.

President Trump issued an executive order last year outlining a White House crackdown on cities that do not comply with federal immigration authorities.

Mullin plans to do the same.

“Well, I’m saying we’re going to 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? And so I’m going to have to be forced to make hard decisions. Who is willing to work with us and partner with us?” Mullin said on Monday.

“Once again, I’m not going outside the policies that Congress passed for me. And we’re not trying to pass those … but we’re saying that you’ve got to partner with us,” he added.

Mullin said he spoke with Trump after his recent confirmation to establish a plan to end the partial government shutdown effectively.

The Senate recently unanimously passed a bill that would fund most of DHS, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. House Republicans rejected the legislation and countered with a plan to fund DHS in its entirety.

“What it is, is there is a problem with what the Senate has proposed. And it’s a fundamental issue that is very difficult for some Republicans to get past. It’s that the bill that has been proposed out of the Senate that was passed with unanimous consent, it essentially, and I say essentially, defunded ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. But the reason why we made that play call is because we want to do it through reconciliation,” Mullin told anchor Bret Baier.

“The reason why the president and I have spoke literally for over five hours in the Oval Office about the best path to do this with is because September 30th is when the fiscal year ends again. We are afraid that the Democrats will try to hold the country hostage again and shut us down,” he added.

Mullin continued, “And so if we can take Customs and Border Patrol off the table and put it through reconciliation, fund it for three years, then we don’t have to worry about the Democrats playing this political theater.”

Add as preferred source on Google