WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin proposed reducing Customs and Border Protection staffing at international airports in jurisdictions the Department of Homeland Security designates as sanctuary areas, including Portland, New York City, and Northern Virginia. Mullin, who assumed the role in March 2026 succeeding Kristi Noem, said the move targets cities that receive international flights but decline to enforce federal immigration laws.

Mullin told Fox News in early April: "If it’s a sanctuary city, it receives international flights and we ask them to collaborate with us at the airport, but once people leave there they won’t enforce immigration policy, maybe we should look at that situation very carefully; we need to focus on cities that do want to work with us." He added: "If the ‘radical left Democrats’ don’t allow federal authorities to enforce immigration laws in their communities, then we shouldn’t process international flights to their cities." Mullin further stated: "They don’t want us to enforce immigration but they want us to process immigration at their facilities? None of that makes sense to me."

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy criticized the proposal during a congressional hearing, saying: "We shouldn’t shut down air travel to a state that doesn’t agree with our political ideology." Two Trump administration officials told CNN there are no imminent plans to implement the proposal. One Trump administration official described Mullin as "obsessed" with the idea since taking office and said he has raised it unprompted in White House meetings. A White House official stated: "The president loves having a team that constantly proposes new ideas, but ultimately, policy decisions will fall to him."

Mullin suspended efforts to build large migrant detention centers early in his tenure, though reports indicate those plans are being reconsidered despite ongoing litigation.