The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is “drawing up plans” to halt customs and immigration processing at airports in sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration efforts, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said on May 26.
In an interview with Fox News, Mullin said he had discussed the plans to stop processing international travelers at sanctuary cities with the White House but that no decision had been made yet.
“We are currently—which we’re not initiating yet—but we’re currently drawing up plans,” he told Fox News’ “The Sean Hannity Show.”
Mullin said he believes that U.S. authorities “shouldn’t be processing international flights into [sanctuary cities]” because “local radical left Democrats aren’t allowing us to do our job and enforce federal laws.”
In August 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a list of states, cities, and counties identified as sanctuary jurisdictions with policies that “impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.” Some of those policies could prevent federal immigration officers from using city resources, personnel, or buildings.
Among the cities listed were New York City, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. The DOJ said it has filed several lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions to compel compliance with federal immigration law.
“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,” Mullin said.
When asked whether sanctuary cities could see reduced Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services in their airports, Mullin said, “We’re going to have to start prioritizing things at some point.”
Airlines for America, which represents major passenger and cargo airlines, said last week that reducing CBP staffing at major airports could lead to “a devastating effect on the airline and tourism industries, causing a significant operational disruption to carriers, travelers and the flow of international cargo.”
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in April 2025 directing the DOJ and DHS to pursue legal remedies for jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal law.
“This is a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law and the Federal Government’s obligation to defend the territorial sovereignty of the United States,” the order stated. “It is imperative that the Federal Government restore the enforcement of United States law.”