Customs Operations and Sanctuary Cities

During a segment on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin addressed the topic of customs clearance in relation to sanctuary cities. He clarified that he does not plan to eliminate customs operations in all such cities, but there could be implications if local law enforcement fails to ensure safety around federal facilities, specifically mentioning Newark.

While discussing Newark’s circumstances, Mullin noted that if local authorities do not facilitate protection of routes surrounding federal sites, “we would have to shift our focus to prioritize federal police officers.” He stressed that this situation could affect international flights at the airport due to customs operations potentially being suspended. “If customs is not available, we can’t process international flights, including those coming from abroad,” he added.

Co-host Brian Kilmeade prompted further clarification, asking if international flights to cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles would be halted. Mullin responded, “That’s not the case in totality. It depends on the circumstances.” He explained that the need for federal agents is determined by the inability of local law enforcement to protect city streets, which has led to barricades that jeopardize safety for federal employees. “Our goal isn’t to stop operations, but we might need to suspend customs if we lack adequate police support,” he continued.

He emphasized that Border Patrol agents are tasked with maintaining security and processing flights, but without sufficient resources from local law enforcement, they also face challenges. “If the situation doesn’t improve, we’ll need to act swiftly,” Mullin concluded while in Newark.