Mullin’s Proposal To Pull Customs From Airports Gets Mixed Reviews

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the Trump administration is drafting plans to stop processing foreign travelers at airports located in sanctuary cities, but the possible change has some former officials questioning the political implications.

Mullin revealed on “Hannity” Tuesday night that officials are “currently drawing up plans” to pull Customs officers from international airports in jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts amid escalating anti-ICE protests outside a facility in Newark, New Jersey.

He then doubled down Thursday, telling Fox News host Brian Kilmeade that while his department won’t “halt” international flights, it will pull Customs officers away from processing those passengers as they attempt to enter the United States.

“When we have situations like what’s happening in New Jersey right now, when we have to prioritize where we put federal employees because local law enforcement won’t help protect their streets … and keep them from barricading and causing harm to our employees, then we have to decide where we’re going to prioritize our federal employees,” Mullin said.

“What we’re saying is we just won’t be able to process them because we don’t have officers there,” he added.

The idea immediately sparked concerns from former Homeland Security officials, who questioned the political fallout and consequences of such a move ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States is set to co-host.

Former Homeland Security advisor Charles Marino said that while there’s a need for “consequences for sanctuary cities, there’s no way this would be allowed to happen with the World Cup coming up.”

“The political pressure on the admin from FIFA, the international community, stadiums, local governments, and businesses would be immense. It also undercuts President Trump, who routinely takes credit for bringing the World Cup to the U.S. To do this now is all risk and no reward,” he said.

Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also appeared skeptical of the proposal.

“We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics,” Duffy said during a Congressional hearing last week.

Another former Homeland Security official, who was granted anonymity to speak more freely on the issue, said the Trump administration is trying to play “hardball,” adding that it’s “the federal government’s right” to carry out such a plan. The official, however, warned that “it is only going to piss off the unaffiliated voters and at the end of the day will not change sanctuary jurisdictions.”

“Democrats will still vote for sanctuary,” the former official said.

Former ICE New York field office deputy director Scott Mechkowski said that Trump’s base will likely support that move, but that Mullin will need to focus his messaging to present it to the general public as a last-ditch effort to force cooperation from sanctuary cities.

Mechkowski said Mullin has to “frame” the initiative as “an extreme measure.” He pointed to the Trump administration’s attempts to “withhold” federal funds from sanctuary cities, an effort that has been repeatedly blocked by court orders.

It would also have “devastating effects,” spelling financial trouble for sanctuary cities, which he expects would cave easily to meet the Trump administration’s demands as a result.

“I think they need to realize that [Mullin] means business,” Mechkowski said.

Mullin first mentioned the proposal in April, presenting it as a tactic to force sanctuary cities to play ball with federal immigration agents.

“I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful,” Mullin told Fox News’ Bret Baier at the time. “I don’t think they’re able to do that, and so we’re gonna take a hard look at this.”

“If they’re sanctuary cities, should they really be processing Customs into their city?” Mullin asked. “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 gonna 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.”