Markwayne Mullin signals closer scrutiny of customs at sanctuary city airports
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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin raised the possibility of restricting customs privileges at airports in sanctuary cities during an appearance on “Special Report” on Monday.
In his first interview as secretary, Mullin told Fox News that DHS will take a closer look at customs enforcement operations at major international airports located in sanctuary areas and question their effectiveness.
“If this is a holy city, should they really go through customs clearance in their own city?” Mullin asked.
“If they’re a sanctuary city and they’re getting international flights and we’re asking them to partner with us at the airport, but when they leave the airport they’re not going to enforce immigration policy — maybe we need to really take a hard look at that.”
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Arriving U.S. citizens and Green Card holders line up for immigration at Newark international airport on Monday, March 9, 2026, in Newark, NJ. The queue is longer than usual as Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control services are currently closed. (Fox News Digital)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are examples of major customs hubs that DHS may examine, as they are both located in sanctuary cities. About 3 million people go through customs at JFK every month, according to the Port Authority.
“I’m going to have to make tough decisions,” Mullin said. “I’m not going outside of the policies that Congress passed for me, and we’re not trying to force them, but we’re saying you need to partner with us.”
Mullin also warned that sanctuary cities more broadly could be at risk under DHS’s leadership, claiming they are illegal.
“I believe sanctuary cities are not legal,” he told Fox News chief political host Bret Baier. “I don’t think they can do that. So we’re going to look into this thoroughly.”
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President Donald Trump shakes hands with newly sworn in Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on March 24 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Mullin took over as head of DHS after her predecessor, Kristi Noem, was fired by President Donald Trump on March 5 after she carried out Trump’s mass deportation agenda for more than a year.
Trump was reportedly “furious” after Noem said at the Senate hearing that she was aware of a taxpayer-funded advertising contract. The White House told Fox News that Digital Trump was unaware of the contract.
Mullin shared his plans to lead the controversy-plagued department.
“My job is to empower them [employees] to do their jobs,” he explained. “How do I make sure they have the tools and the assets and the manpower they need to do the mission that Congress and the president have given us?”
During his confirmation hearing, Mullin said one of his goals is to hope that in six months, DHS won’t be in the headlines every day.
“We are currently receiving more correspondence from the media than from the White House,” Mullin said.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem testifies at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2026. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)
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“This has become a political hotbed. And really, why is the Home Office such a political hotbed? All they’re doing is trying to keep our streets safe, trying to keep our nation safe, trying to stop bad actors from carrying out terrorist attacks on the homeland. That should be something we can all get behind,” he added.
Mullin also mentioned the ongoing partial government shutdown due to Congress’ failure to agree on a funding plan for DHS. He accused Democrats of putting the country in a vulnerable position amid the conflict with Iran.
“His “We are putting our mission at risk,” he said. “We are going through very challenging times right now.”
“How When we get past this, we can put partisan bickering aside and ask, ‘What’s best for America?’ We have to say. ‘What’s the best thing to do moving forward?'”
