Mullin Considers Leveraging Airport Customs to Challenge Sanctuary Cities

Homeland Security Secretary Mulls Customs Halt at Sanctuary City Airports

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has suggested the federal government could cease processing customs at international airports in sanctuary cities, a move that would apply significant pressure on these jurisdictions to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

The potential action would effectively block international travelers from entering major metropolitan areas including New York, New Orleans, and Philadelphia, directly impacting commerce, tourism, and the economic foundations of these urban centers.

“This one area we may take a look at is some of these cities have international airports,” Mullin stated during an appearance on “Special Report.” “If they’re a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?”

Such a measure would leverage the Department of Homeland Security’s control over customs operations to address what Mullin characterized as unlawful sanctuary policies. These policies generally limit local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal immigration authorities.

The secretary emphasized that sanctuary jurisdictions cannot selectively choose which federal policies to follow. “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,” Mullin explained.

The proposed action would target major international gateways like New York’s John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, Philadelphia International Airport, and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Officials from these cities have not responded to requests for comment regarding the potential customs suspension.

The economic implications of such a move would be substantial. International airports serve as crucial economic engines for metropolitan areas, facilitating business travel, tourism, and global commerce. Suspending customs processing would effectively sever these cities from the international travel network, potentially costing them billions in economic activity and tax revenue.

The timing of Mullin’s comments is particularly significant as they come amid an ongoing partial shutdown affecting DHS operations. “We are going to have to start prioritizing things at some point,” Mullin noted, connecting the issue to broader budget disputes. “[They’re] wanting to defund Customs & Border [Protection] — well, who processes those individuals when they come off the planes?”

Immigration enforcement has become an increasingly contentious point of conflict between federal authorities and local governments. Some city officials have taken particularly strong stances against federal immigration enforcement, including Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who recently threatened to prosecute ICE agents operating in his jurisdiction.

Mullin insisted his goal isn’t to exceed his authority but rather to encourage municipalities to work with federal immigration authorities. “I’m not trying to push those [boundaries],” he said. “I’m simply trying to convince all municipalities to partner with his agency.”

The proposal represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between the federal government and sanctuary jurisdictions. While previous administrations have attempted to withhold certain federal funding from sanctuary cities, targeting international travel infrastructure would represent a more direct and potentially disruptive approach to compelling cooperation.

Aviation and immigration policy experts note that such a move would likely face legal challenges, as cities would argue that the federal government cannot selectively withhold essential services based on unrelated policy disagreements. The proposal also raises questions about the potential for economic harm to businesses and travelers who are not directly involved in immigration policy disputes.