DHS Secretary Mullin Suggests Prioritizing CBP Operations at Airports in Cooperative Cities

By [Neutral Byline], April 7, 2026

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin discussed the possibility of reallocating Customs and Border Protection (CBP) resources away from airports in sanctuary cities during a Fox News interview.

Sanctuary cities are local jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, such as by not honoring certain ICE detainers. Federal courts have upheld these policies, ruling they do not violate federal immigration law. For instance, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in *City and County of San Francisco v. Trump* (2019) invalidated executive actions that sought to withhold federal funds from non-cooperating jurisdictions.

In an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Mullin addressed sanctuary policies, stating, “I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful.” He raised questions about CBP operations at international airports in such cities, asking, “If they are a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?”

Mullin continued, “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.”

Baier pressed Mullin on whether major airports in cities like New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco could lose CBP operations. Mullin responded, “Well, I’m saying we’re going to have to start prioritizing things at some point. Right now, remember, Democrats are wanting to defund Customs and Border Protection. So who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane? I’m going 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 has passed for me, and we’re not trying to push beyond those, but we’re saying that you’ve got to partner with us.”

The comments come amid ongoing debates over federal-local cooperation on immigration. Some Democratic lawmakers have proposed reducing funding for CBP and ICE, while the Trump administration has emphasized enforcement priorities.

Coverage of the interview in other outlets highlighted potential operational challenges. The Guardian described Mullin's remarks as risking "sabotage" to airport functions, noting concerns about disruptions to international travel if CBP presence were reduced. The Daily Beast reported similar worries, pointing to recent lapses in DHS funding that have already strained border operations, and questioned the feasibility of shifting customs processing without congressional approval.

A recent incident at San Francisco International Airport illustrates tensions over sanctuary policies. Last month, ICE agents detained a noncitizen at the airport. Protesters gathered at the scene, and San Francisco Police Department officers did not assist federal agents, citing the city's sanctuary ordinance, which prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE absent a criminal warrant.

Mullin's statements reflect the administration's focus on jurisdictions willing to collaborate on immigration enforcement. No specific timeline or decisions on airport operations have been announced. CBP currently handles customs preclearance and inspections at dozens of U.S. international airports, processing millions of passengers annually.

The discussion underscores broader policy differences. Proponents of sanctuary policies argue they build community trust and improve public safety by encouraging crime reporting regardless of immigration status. Critics, including Mullin, contend they hinder federal enforcement efforts.

For the full interview, view the Fox News segment [embedded video reference].

This report draws from the Fox News interview and public court records. Additional reactions from city officials or CBP were not immediately available.

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