Trending Now - DHS Chief Mullin to Intensify Customs Oversight at Sanctuary Airports

WHO:

Fox News - Markwayne Mullin stated, "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."

Fox News - Markwayne Mullin is the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Fox News - President Donald Trump is mentioned as having fired Kristi Noem, the previous DHS Secretary.

Fox News - Senator Rand Paul commented on Mullin's fitness for the job.

WHAT:

Fox News - Mullin indicated that sanctuary cities could face significant consequences if they refuse to enforce federal immigration laws.

Fox News - Mullin described sanctuary cities as "unlawful," stating, "I believe sanctuary cities, it’s not lawful. I don't think they're able to do that."

Fox News - Mullin raised the possibility of restricting customs privileges at airports in sanctuary cities, stating, "If they're a sanctuary city and they're receiving international flights... maybe we need to have a really hard look at that."

Fox News - Mullin indicated that sanctuary cities could face significant consequences if they refuse to enforce federal immigration laws.

Fox News - Mullin indicated that DHS will scrutinize customs operations at airports in sanctuary cities.

Fox News - Mullin questioned the efficacy of customs processing in sanctuary cities, stating, "If they're a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?"

Fox News - Approximately 3 million people pass through customs each month at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Fox News - Mullin stated, "I'm going to have to be forced to make hard decisions" regarding customs enforcement.

Fox News - Mullin described sanctuary cities as "unlawful" and stated, "I don't think they're able to do that."

WHERE:

Fox News - Major international airports mentioned include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), both located in sanctuary cities.

Fox News - Newark International Airport is also referenced as a location where customs processing occurs.

WHEN:

Fox News - Mullin was sworn in as DHS Secretary on March 24, 2026, after Kristi Noem was fired by Trump on March 5, 2026.

Fox News - Mullin was sworn in as DHS Secretary on March 24, 2026.

Fox News - Kristi Noem was fired by Trump on March 5, 2026.

Fox News - Mullin's confirmation hearing occurred prior to his swearing-in.

WHY:

Fox News - Mullin accused Democrats of putting the country in a vulnerable state amid conflict with Iran, stating, "It’s putting our mission at risk."

Fox News - Mullin expressed concerns about the partnership between DHS and sanctuary cities, suggesting that if cities do not enforce immigration policy, customs processing may need to be reevaluated.

Fox News - Mullin criticized the ongoing partial government shutdown, stating it puts the DHS mission at risk and calls for bipartisan cooperation.

HOW:

Fox News - Mullin plans to empower DHS employees to effectively carry out their duties and ensure they have the necessary tools and manpower.

Fox News - Mullin revealed that DHS receives more correspondence from the media than the White House does, saying, "Right now, we get more correspondence from media than the White House does."

Fox News - Mullin plans to empower DHS employees to effectively carry out their duties and ensure they have the necessary tools and manpower.

Fox News - Mullin aims to reduce the media attention on DHS, stating, "within six months, I hope DHS will not be in the headlines every day."

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 07:19 UTC)

Markwayne Mullin, who was sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security March 24th, after Trump fired Kristi Noem, has raised concerns about sanctuary cities, suggesting they could face significant consequences for not enforcing federal immigration laws. He described these cities as "unlawful" and emphasized that their refusal to partner with federal authorities at airports undermines national security, especially amid ongoing tensions with Iran. Mullin also expressed his commitment to empowering DHS employees by ensuring they have the necessary tools and manpower to effectively carry out their duties.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 03:52 UTC)

On Fox News, Mullin suggested that customs privileges at airports in sanctuary cities could be restricted, emphasizing the need for a closer examination of these policies. He also warned that sanctuary cities might face serious consequences for not enforcing federal immigration laws, accusing Democrats of jeopardizing national security amid tensions with Iran. Additionally, Mullin pointed out that the Department of Homeland Security currently receives more correspondence from the media than from the White House.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 01:23 UTC)

Markwayne Mullin, who was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security March 24th, is already making headlines with his plans to scrutinize customs operations at airports in sanctuary cities like Los Angeles International and John F. Kennedy International. Mullin has raised questions about the effectiveness of customs processing in these cities, stating that if they are sanctuary cities, they may not be equipped to handle customs enforcement properly. He also criticized the ongoing partial government shutdown, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to protect the mission of DHS and expressing his intention to empower employees to carry out their duties effectively.