Trump Administration Weighs Cutting Airport Customs Access For Sanctuary Cities
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration is considering a major policy shift that could restrict international airport operations in sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
In an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News, Mullin suggested that cities declining to work with federal authorities could face consequences, including the potential removal of Customs personnel from major airports.
He raised concerns about cities that allow international travelers to enter through their airports but do not coordinate with federal immigration officials once those individuals leave the terminal. Mullin questioned whether such arrangements should continue if local governments refuse to enforce immigration policies.
Mullin: I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful. Some of these cities have international airports. If they are a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city? We need to have a really hard look at that.
Baier: So you are saying that big cities that… pic.twitter.com/UAJxWFZtZI
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2026
The proposal would represent a significant escalation in the administration’s broader effort to pressure sanctuary jurisdictions, which limit cooperation with ICE.
Mullin indicated that resource constraints and ongoing political disputes in Washington are also influencing the discussion, pointing to debates over funding for border enforcement agencies as part of the broader context.
President Donald Trump has already taken steps to increase federal enforcement presence in certain cities, including deploying additional agents to areas where local cooperation is limited.
The potential airport-focused approach would add a new layer of pressure by targeting international travel infrastructure, which could significantly impact cities that rely on global connectivity.
Mullin also suggested that a more cooperative model could ease tensions, proposing that local authorities notify federal agents before releasing individuals in custody so immigration enforcement can take place without extending detention times.
The idea remains under consideration, but it signals a willingness by the administration to use federal resources as leverage in ongoing disputes over immigration policy and local authority.