DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin signals closer scrutiny of customs at major sanctuary city airports

In his first interview as secretary, Mullin told Fox News that DHS will be taking a closer look at customs enforcement operations at major international airports located in sanctuary jurisdictions, questioning their efficacy.

"If they're a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?" Mullin asked.

"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."
SEN RAND PAUL SAYS TRUMP’S DHS PICK MARKWAYNE MULLIN IS ‘UNFIT’ FOR THE JOB AFTER HEATED HEARING EXCHANGE
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and John F.

Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are examples of major customs hubs that DHS could be looking into, as both are located in sanctuary cities.

According to Port Authority, roughly 3 million people pass through customs each month at JFK.

"I'm going to have to be forced to make hard decisions," Mullin said.

"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 also warned that sanctuary cities more broadly may be at risk under his leadership of DHS, claiming they are unlawful.

"I believe sanctuary cities, it’s not lawful," he told Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier.

"I don't think they're able to do that.

And so, we're going to take a hard look at this."
Trump was reportedly "furious" with Noem saying during a Senate hearing that he knew about a taxpayer-funded ad contract.

The White House told Fox News Digital Trump did not know about the contract.

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.

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?'"