Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin has sparked controversy by suggesting the removal of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from airports in sanctuary cities. The idea, aimed at challenging cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, has drawn criticism, especially from California officials.
Mullin’s Proposal to Reevaluate Sanctuary Cities and Border Security
In an interview with Fox News on April 6, Mullin, who was appointed DHS secretary on March 23, discussed the department’s strategy regarding sanctuary cities. He revealed that DHS was considering removing or limiting CBP presence at international airports in cities that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration policies.
“Some of these cities have international airports; if they are a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?” Mullin asked. He explained that while international travelers may arrive at airports in sanctuary cities, their departure from the airport could conflict with federal immigration policies, creating a disjointed enforcement strategy.
Mullin’s comments were clear: “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.”
California Governor Responds with Criticism
California Governor Gavin Newsom quickly responded to Mullin’s remarks, dismissing the proposal as a “stupid idea.” Through a post on X, Newsom’s office warned that such a policy could severely impact international travel in some of the world’s busiest airports, such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
“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,” Newsom’s office stated.
Potential Impact on Major U.S. Airports
LAX and SFO are two of the largest international travel hubs in the United States, both located in sanctuary cities as designated by the federal government. In 2025, these airports processed over 120 million passengers combined. With such a large volume of travelers, any move to restrict or remove CBP officers from these airports could have significant consequences for international travel.
At the time of publication, USA TODAY had reached out to SFO and LAX for comment on Mullin’s statement but had not received responses.
Escalation of the Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies
Mullin’s suggestion is seen as an escalation of the Trump administration’s efforts to punish jurisdictions that do not fully comply with federal immigration enforcement. In January, President Trump intensified his strategy to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities and counties, which included major California cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.
The Trump administration’s efforts have already faced legal challenges. In 2025, a U.S. District Judge in San Francisco issued an injunction blocking the administration’s attempt to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities and counties, affecting jurisdictions across the country.
Moving Forward with Immigration Enforcement Priorities
Mullin emphasized that DHS would continue to prioritize working with cities and counties that are willing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. “I am not going outside the policies that Congress passed for me, and we’re not trying to push those, but we’re saying you’ve got to partner with us,” Mullin explained.
