Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Fox News host Bret Baier during an interview that the Trump administration may consider removing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from sanctuary cities that have international airports. “In interview w/ colleague @BretBaier, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin floats the idea of stripping CBP/customs officers from airports in large sanctuary cities as retaliation for refusing to cooperate with the federal government. International travelers wouldn’t be able to fly into airports and leave without going through customs,” Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin wrote. “Mullin points out that Democrats are also refusing to fund CBP,” Melugin added. NEW: In interview w/ colleague @BretBaier, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin floats the idea of stripping CBP/customs officers from airports in large sanctuary cities as retaliation for refusing to cooperate with the federal government. International travelers wouldn’t be able to… — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 6, 2026 “I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful,” Mullin commented. “Some of these cities have international airports. If they are a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?” Mullin continued. “Seriously, 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 because we need to focus on cities that want to work with us,” he added. “So you are saying that big cities that are sanctuary cities that have a big airport, they might lose their customs?” Baier questioned. “I’m going to be forced to make hard decisions,” Mullin said. Watch the exchange: Mullin: I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful. Some of these cities have international airports. If they are a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city? We need to have a really hard look at that. Baier: So you are saying that big cities that… pic.twitter.com/UAJxWFZtZI — Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2026 More from the New York Post: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents operate at more than 300 ports of entry, including international airports, throughout the country. Removing CBP from sanctuary city airports would be in-line with the Trump administration’s policy of terminating federal funding for jurisdictions that prevent local law enforcement and jails from working with federal immigration enforcement agents. Reducing the number of CBP agents at sanctuary city airports would likely create long lines for international travelers seeking to enter or re-enter the US. Federal funding for DHS lapsed on Feb. 14, when Democratic lawmakers voted to shut down the department over concerns about CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies. ICE and CBP, however, remain funded through President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “Could be a massive problem for LAX SFO ORD EWR JFK etc,” Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman commented. Could be a massive problem for LAX SFO ORD EWR JFK etc. https://t.co/k9ijk8ofXN — Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 6, 2026 Fox News shared further: Mullin shared his plans for leading the department that has become embattled with controversy. “My job is to empower them [employees] to do their jobs,” he explained. “How do I make sure that they have the tools and the assets they need and the manpower they need to be able to go out and deliver the mission that Congress and the president has tasked us with?” During his confirmation hearing, Mullin said one goal is that within six months, he hopes DHS will not be in the headlines every day. “Right now, we get more correspondence from media than the White House does,” Mullin revealed. “It’s become such a political hotbed. And really, why is Department of Homeland such a political hotbed? All they’re doing is trying to keep our streets safe, trying to keep our nation secure, trying to keep bad actors from having terrorist attacks on the homeland. It should be something we all get behind,” he added. Mullin also spoke about the ongoing partial government shutdown as Congress fails to agree on a funding plan for DHS. He accused Democrats of putting the country in a vulnerable state amid conflict with Iran. “It’s putting our mission at risk,” he said. “We have some very challenging times right now.” “How we get past this is that we’ve got to put the partisan bickering aside and say, ‘What’s best for America? What’s best for moving forward?'”