Homeland Security Proposes Changes in Sanctuary Cities
After Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin unveiled a plan to pull Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from airports in sanctuary cities—those that don’t comply with federal immigration enforcement—Republican senators have come out in favor of the initiative.
“I think there should be consequences for cities and states that violate federal law,” said Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina. “They should face repercussions for their actions. I support him in this.”
Mullin’s proposal responds to the refusal of some sanctuary cities to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ongoing discussions over immigration funding.
However, the idea has sparked significant opposition from Democrats. They argue that removing customs agents would effectively halt international travel at major airports, severely impacting both passengers and freight. Without these agents, Americans returning from abroad would also be inconvenienced.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy also voiced his concerns, emphasizing the importance of maintaining open travel.
Despite the pushback, Mullin insists that the plan remains under consideration. “These cities are making choices, and they need to think about the outcomes,” remarked Senator Deb Fischer from Nebraska. “If they want to be a sanctuary city, that’s their choice, and we’re currently seeing a response from the Department of Homeland Security.”
Other Republican senators seemed uncertain, requesting more information before fully engaging with the proposal. “I’m not sure about this,” said Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri. “Someone mentioned it to me, but I haven’t seen anything from him yet. So, I’m a bit in the dark on that.”
Senator Ashley Moody from Florida echoed the need to gather more details, while Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska stated, “We need to find out what’s happening.”
Mullin faced criticism during a recent Senate hearing regarding his threat to withdraw staff from key city airports. Democrats labeled the move as “outrageous” and “insane,” highlighting the potential economic fallout amid rising travel rates expected during the upcoming summer.
When asked if the proposal would alter the dynamics between sanctuary cities and ICE, Fischer responded, “I can’t say what the cities will do. We hope local law enforcement will choose to cooperate with ICE. They’re a federal agency, doing their job and following the law.”
This proposal emerges as the U.S. get ready to host millions of international visitors for the World Cup, predicted to attract the largest influx of tourists in years.
