Summary (tl;dr)

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has proposed the withdrawal of federal customs and immigration services from international airports in "sanctuary cities," aiming to pressure these jurisdictions into cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

Essential Background

Markwayne Mullin, a former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, was confirmed as the ninth United States Secretary of Homeland Security in March 2026, where he has since taken a firm stance on immigration policy. Sanctuary city policies are local or state laws that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, typically by not using local resources to enforce federal immigration laws. Mullin has consistently advocated for stricter border control, increased deportations, and the defunding of sanctuary cities and states, emphasizing that such jurisdictions are "not lawful" and undermine national security.

The Full Story

Secretary Mullin recently suggested that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may cease processing international travelers and cargo at airports located in sanctuary cities. He publicly floated this idea in an April 2026 Fox News interview and reiterated the threat privately to travel industry executives last week. Mullin cited a partial government shutdown and a dispute over DHS funding as reasons to prioritize federal resources, arguing that if cities refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement once travelers leave the airport, DHS should reconsider providing customs services there. This move could effectively prevent international flights from landing in major U.S. cities, potentially causing significant disruptions to air travel and commerce.

Why It Matters

This proposal has raised significant concerns within the travel and tourism industries, which fear severe economic disruption and chaos at major U.S. airports if customs processing is halted. Industry representatives have warned that international travelers and cargo cannot be easily rerouted, and such a policy could severely hamper U.S. tourism, especially with the upcoming FIFA World Cup, for which many host cities are classified as sanctuary jurisdictions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly stated his opposition, remarking that air travel should not be shut down in states that disagree with federal politics. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement priorities and local sanctuary policies, with potential far-reaching consequences for national and local economies.

Geographic Location

• Washington, D.C., United States (DHS headquarters, location of private meetings with travel executives)
• New York City, New York, United States (mentioned as a sanctuary city where customs processing could be affected, including John F. Kennedy International Airport)
• Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (mentioned as a sanctuary city where customs processing could be affected)
• Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States (mentioned as a sanctuary city where customs processing could be affected)
• Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States (mentioned as a sanctuary city where customs processing could be affected)
• Denver, Denver County, Colorado, United States (mentioned as a sanctuary city where customs processing could be affected)
• San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, United States (mentioned as a sanctuary city where customs processing could be affected, including San Francisco International Airport)
• Seattle, King County, Washington, United States (mentioned as a sanctuary city where customs processing could be affected)
• Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, United States (mentioned as a city with an airport where customs processing could be affected, Newark Liberty International Airport)
• Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, United States (mentioned as a city with an airport where customs processing could be affected, Portland International Airport)
• Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States (location of a roundtable where Mullin discussed the idea)