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By Anna Commander
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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin's remarks about customs at sanctuary cities' international airports have sparked concern on social media.
"If they're a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?" Mullin said in part during an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier on Monday.
Newsweek reached out to the DHS via email for additional comment.
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Why It Matters
Mullin's ascension to lead DHS arrives at a moment of significant turmoil. Funding has lapsed for the department since mid-February, prompting long wait times at airports across the country as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents called out in droves amid missed paychecks.
Airport chaos mixed with former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's ouster brought additional spotlight to the position. Noem has since been encased in unwanted attention after reports her husband Bryon Noem cross-dresses and wears fake breasts.
What To Know
Talking with Baier in the interview airing Monday, Mullin said, "I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful. I don't think they're able to do that. And so we're going to take a hard look at this. This one area we may take a hard look at is some of these cities have international airports. If they're a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city? Seriously, if they're 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 a focus on cities that want to work with us."
Baier then attempted to clarify. "So you're saying that big cities that are sanctuary cities that have a big airport, they might lose their customs?"
Mullin followed up: "Well, I'm saying we're going to have to start prioritizing things at some point. Right now, remember, the Democrats are wanting to defund Customs and Border Patrol. Well, who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane? So, I'm going to have to be forced to make hard decisions. Who's willing to work with us and partner with us? Once again, I am not going outside the policies that Congress passed for me, and we're not trying to push those, but we're saying that you've got to partner with us."
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What People Are Saying
Governor Gavin Newsom's Press Office, on X Monday: "If you thought the economy was bad with Trump’s war driving prices at the pump up … just wait until international travel is halted at some of the busiest airports in the world. Talk about a stupid idea (no wonder it’s being considered by the Trump Admin)."
Juliette Kayyem, CNN analyst and former assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs at DHS, on X Monday: "Hello World Cup visitors! All but one of the hosts cities is governed by a Democrat. Mullin is going to learn soon his 'floating' isn’t going to happen."
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, on X Monday: "Markwayne Mullin floats that his first major move as DHS Secretary might be to massively disrupt international air travel into and out of the United States by pulling customs officers out of cities like New York and Los Angeles, a move that would have international ramifications."
In a follow-up post, he added, "You can only imagine the utter chaos that would break out if DHS suddenly declared that international flights couldn’t land at the below airports because Sec. Mullin had deliberately pulled out all the customs officers. Suffice it to say, I hope this trial balloon deflates."
Republican Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio, on X Monday: "Sanctuary cities are in open rebellion to federal authority to determine the lawful presence of foreign nationals. They obstruct our legal obligation to remove those unlawfully in the United States. Removing every bit of DHS support from sanctuary cities makes sense."
Cato Institute Director of Immigration Studies David J. Bier, on X Monday: "In case you wondering if he wasn’t going to be a complete corrupt partisan official like Noem"
What Happens Next
It is unknown at the time of publication if new policies will be implemented at sanctuary city airports.
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