RedState’s Ben Smith wrote about how back in April, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was "looking hard" at pulling Customs and Border Patrol agents from airports in sanctuary cities because those cities harbor illegal aliens and refuse to cooperate with ICE.
On Tuesday, he announced on Fox News that the idea has moved one step further and he is “currently drawing up plans” to make it happen.
🚨 HUGE DEVELOPMENT: Sec. Markwayne Mullin announces DHS is drawing up plans to BLOCK ALL international flights into sanctuary cities by ending Customs screening there
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 27, 2026
This would DEVASTATE those cities.
Mullin is doing it as a direct result of sanctuaries refusing to cooperate… pic.twitter.com/GRHOWtdipv
🚨 HUGE DEVELOPMENT: Sec. Markwayne Mullin announces DHS is drawing up plans to BLOCK ALL international flights into sanctuary cities by ending Customs screening there
This would DEVASTATE those cities.
Mullin is doing it as a direct result of sanctuaries refusing to cooperate
GOOD! We need consequences where it hurts!
"Why are we processing international flights into the airport there? And we are currently, which we're not issuing it yet, but we're currently drawing up plans to say, listen — in these sanctuary cities where the local radical left Democrats aren't allowing us to do our job and enforce federal laws, then we shouldn't be processing international flights into their cities either, because they don't want us to enforce immigration, but they want us to process immigration at their facilities!"
Anti-ICE Crew's Embarrassing, 'Find Out' Moments in Newark
It’s kind of an epic idea, but Fox News’ Bill Melugin notes that it could cause chaos at blue-state airports:
NEW: Last night on @FoxNews, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin again said he is considering pulling CBP out of sanctuary city airports, adding that "we are currently drawing up plans" to do so. His comments came in response to protests at ICE's Delaney Hall detention facility in…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 27, 2026
NEW: Last night on @FoxNews, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin again said he is considering pulling CBP out of sanctuary city airports, adding that "we are currently drawing up plans" to do so. His comments came in response to protests at ICE's Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, NJ, where he says local police won't respond to assist due to sanctuary policies.
Pulling CBP out of sanctuary airports would have an enormous chain reaction impact, as international travelers would no longer be able to fly into airports like LAX, JFK, San Francisco, Chicago, Newark, Seattle, Denver, Philly, etc, as there would be no customs agents to process them.
Additionally, Mullin points out that Democrats have refused to fund CBP.
It's unclear how serious/advanced this idea is, as Mullin has said no final decision has been made - but such a move would likely have enormous ripple effects if it were to come to fruition.
Thoughts?
That may be true, but it’s far past time that cities that openly defy the federal government and its law enforcement efforts should be made to feel the consequences, whether they’re from this plan or alternative ones.
Meanwhile, Mullin spoke at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting about the anti-ICE protesters who have been demonstrating at a detention center in Newark, New Jersey, over what they claim are poor conditions. Mullin was not sympathetic:
.@SecMullinDHS on the Democrats' spectacle at the NJ ICE facility: "They say that it's because they're on a hunger strike... because they want their ethnic right food. Well, they can go back to their country and get whatever food they want... this isn't Holiday Inn." pic.twitter.com/DftNoylQoW
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 27, 2026
“This isn’t Holiday Inn.” I love it.
Pulling Customs and Border Protection agents from certain airports would certainly be a drastic step — but then again, sanctuary cities took the first drastic steps when they started actively undermining federal law enforcement and making our neighborhoods less safe. We’ll see if he follows through with this big move.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
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