DHS Secretary Mullin Suggests Sanctuary Cities Could Lose International Flight Processing Authority

By Staff Reporter

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated on Monday during an appearance on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" that cities with sanctuary policies might lose access to certain federal services, including the processing of international flights at their airports, if they limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Mullin, appearing in his role as DHS secretary, questioned the appropriateness of sanctuary cities handling international travelers. "This one area we may take a hard look at is, some of these cities have international airports. If they’re a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?" Mullin asked Baier.

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

Sanctuary city policies typically involve local ordinances or practices that restrict municipal resources from being used to assist federal immigration enforcement, such as detaining individuals solely for immigration violations. These policies have been upheld in federal courts. In Printz v. United States (1997), the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government cannot compel state or local officials to enforce federal regulatory programs, invoking the Tenth Amendment's anti-commandeering doctrine. This legal framework has shaped ongoing debates, with supporters viewing sanctuary measures as protecting local autonomy and federalism, while critics, including Mullin, argue they hinder national immigration enforcement.

Baier pressed Mullin on whether major cities with sanctuary designations could lose their customs processing authority. Mullin responded that the federal government would need to prioritize resources. "I’m saying we’re going to have to start prioritizing things at some point," he said. Mullin noted that, according to his remarks, Democrats have sought to defund Customs and Border Protection (CBP). "Right now, remember, the Democrats are wanting to defund Customs and Border Patrol. Well, who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane?" he asked. "So I’m going to have to be forced to make hard decisions. Who’s willing to work with us and partner with us? Once again, I’m not going outside the policies that Congress passed for me. And we’re not trying to push those."

Some Democratic lawmakers have advocated for reducing or eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and have conditioned DHS funding on broader immigration policy reforms, contributing to congressional disputes over appropriations. These positions contrast with Republican efforts to enhance federal immigration enforcement.

Mullin described sanctuary city policies as unlawful, though court rulings have generally permitted local non-cooperation without requiring active obstruction of federal operations. News outlets across the political spectrum interpret the implications of sanctuary policies differently: conservative sources often highlight enforcement challenges, while progressive outlets emphasize community trust and constitutional limits on federal power.

The discussion reflects broader tensions between federal and local authorities on immigration. Video of the interview is available on Fox News' website.

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