Mullin sanctuary-city – Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says his agency is drawing up plans to halt processing of international travelers at airports in “sanctuary cities,” citing clashes at an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The idea has drawn immediate push
When Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sat down for an interview Tuesday, he framed his proposal as simple: if “sanctuary cities” won’t let federal officials do their jobs, then those cities shouldn’t get federal services at the airport level, either.
Mullin told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that the Department of Homeland Security is “drawing up” plans to halt processing of international travelers at airports in some “sanctuary cities.” He described a scenario in which international flights would not be processed when they arrive in major hubs located in such cities—mentioning New York. Atlanta and Los Angeles as examples.
The impetus. Mullin said. came from what he called recent clashes between law enforcement and protesters at Delaney Hall. an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Newark. New Jersey. “They’re barricading our employees from coming in and out of the facility,” Mullin told Hannity. “Then, why are we processing international flights into the airport there?. And I. we are currently … drawing up plans to say. listen. these sanctuary cities where the local radical-left Democrats aren’t allowing us to do our jobs and enforce federal laws. then we shouldn’t be processing international flights into their cities. either.”.
Mullin added that local authorities want federal immigration enforcement while avoiding its consequences: “Because they don’t want us to enforce immigration, but they want us to process immigration at their facilities. Nothing about that makes sense to me.”
Whether the plan is close to being implemented—or whether President Donald Trump would back it—was not clear. The source material also does not say whether Mullin could unilaterally suspend customs and other functions at airports. which is crucial to how disruptive any airport processing change could be.
What is clear is that the airline industry is already resisting the idea.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. another member of Trump’s Cabinet. spoke out against shutting down air travel in a state that disagrees with federal politics. At a House Budget Committee hearing last Thursday. Duffy said. “We have people from around the world and around the country that need to be able to fly into all different kinds of places. ” adding. “We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics.”.
On X. Juliette Kayyem—a former Department of Homeland Security official who worked in the Obama administration—argued the concept wouldn’t improve immigration enforcement. She wrote that “Of all the bad ideas floated by this Administration. this one ranks. ” and said it would be “a serious distraction plan.” Kayyem wrote that “Planes don’t divert to other airports. The flights will be canceled, disrupting blue and red voters, impacting the airlines, and having no impact on immigration policy.”.
That argument matters because Mullin’s announcement landed at a moment when U.S. airport infrastructure is already under strain.
Millions are expected to travel to the United States for the FIFA World Cup next month. Airports in the cities targeted by Mullin are among those dealing with increased pressure. The plan’s reach is not theoretical. either: games will take place at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. just a few miles from Newark Liberty International. In the New York metropolitan area, Newark and two other airports—John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia—processed about 50 million international flyers last year.
Mullin’s comments also follow earlier threats aimed at airport operations. Last week. industry analysts warned of “devastating consequences” after Mullin threatened to pull Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in “sanctuary cities. ” as described by The Independent. The U.S. Travel Association said in a statement that “U.S. Travel believes such a move would have devastating consequences for the travel industry and communities that depend on international visitation.”.
The immediate political flashpoint behind Mullin’s latest remarks is Delaney Hall in Newark, where protests escalated into a crisis of conditions.
Over the weekend, hundreds of detainees went on a hunger strike to protest what they described as inhumane conditions. Detainees said ICE guards weren’t giving them enough food or medical care at the facility. They also alleged that guards were subjecting them to physical and psychological torture.
Democratic lawmakers visited the facility to spotlight the allegations. Authorities used nonlethal projectiles to disperse protesters. Last weekend, Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., was hit by a pepper ball during a protest. Kim said. “What we saw here is unfortunately just what we see all over the country. ” adding. “It’s sad. it’s a sad day.”.
Homeland Security, through its own response, disputed the characterization of the protest. Acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement that the protest was a “smear campaign.” Bis wrote. “This is nothing more than a political stunt by New Jersey sanctuary politicians for fundraising clicks. ” and added. “There is NO hunger strike at Delaney Hall. There are NO subprime conditions or abuse at the facility.”.
The tension in Mullin’s approach is hard to ignore: he ties a potential crackdown on international airport processing to a fight over access and enforcement at a detention center. while airline leaders and Cabinet colleagues warn that the result could be canceled flights rather than targeted pressure.
One connection runs through the facts as they’re laid out: Mullin points to Newark’s Delaney Hall clashes to justify restricting international processing into “sanctuary cities. ” while Duffy and others argue that limiting airport access would spill over to travelers and carriers far beyond the politics of immigration enforcement.
For now. Mullin says plans are being “drawn up. ” and the operational details—how far along the process is. whether Trump supports it. and whether it can be carried out without broader action—remain unanswered. But with the FIFA World Cup drawing closer and the New York-area airports that processed about 50 million international flyers last year sitting within reach of his examples. the stakes aren’t confined to policy arguments. They’re tied to departures. arrivals. and the simple question of who gets to fly where—based on a dispute that starts at a detention center and could end up rerouting the motion of the world.
Markwayne Mullin DHS sanctuary cities airport processing international flyers Newark Liberty International JFK LaGuardia Delaney Hall ICE hunger strike Andy Kim Sean Duffy FIFA World Cup Customs and Border Protection