This is so outlandish that it’s hard to take seriously, and I can’t believe that this is even being thrown out there as a possibility. But when it’s said by those in the highest positions of power, it also can’t just be ignored.
In this post:
Mullin might pull customs from airports to punish cities
Markwayne Mullin is Trump’s new Homeland Security Secretary, after the abrupt firing of Kristi Noem. The former Oklahoma Senator is known for making headlines, but this has to be among the most absurd I’ve seen (along with the time he wanted to fight a union president in the Senate).
During an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Mullin was asked about lack of local law enforcement cooperation in so called “sanctuary cities.” Mullin responded with the following:
“I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful, I don’t think they’re able to do that. So we’re gonna take a hard look at this. This one area we may take a hard look at is that some of these cities have international airports. If they’re sanctuary cities, should they really be processing customs into their cities?”
“Seriously, if they’re sanctuary cities, 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.”
Baier was caught off guard by that comment, so followed that up with the following question:
“So you’re saying that big cities that are sanctuary cities that have a big airport, they might lose their customs?”
Mullin responded as follows:
“Well, I’m saying we’re going to have to start prioritizing things at some point. Right now, remember, the Democrats are wanting to defund Customs and Border patrol. Well who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane? So I’m going to have to be forced to make hard decisions, who’s willing to work with us and partner with us?”
This is such a laughable threat to even make
Folks in the Trump administration are known for making a lot of threats, though this one definitely ranks up there, if you ask me.
There’s no official definition of what constitutes a “sanctuary city,” and for those not familiar, the term refers to places where local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration does publish a list of places that it considers to be sanctuary cities.
That includes cities like Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, etc. So yeah, make no mistake, the threat here is that they’re taking a “hard look” at the possibility of shutting down customs at the biggest airports in the country. Maybe Vasu Raja’s El Paso global domination strategy wasn’t so bad after all, it just came before its time…
Bottom line
The new Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, is threatening to pull customs from the country’s biggest airports, over lack of cooperation from “sanctuary cities.” I totally get that this guy wants to flex however he can, but essentially threatening to ban international flights at the country’s biggest airports doesn’t seem like a winning strategy on any level…
What do you make of Mullin’s “hard look” at airport customs?
I think you can read into his comments differently and may be even similar to what many companies have done. Perhaps CBP won't close in those airports but they will maintain the minimum necessary because of reduced funding, which would prove the same purpose without closing it completely.
So TACO.
he should stick to plumbing. America is being run by people with 3rd grade educations. Disgraceful
“I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful, I don’t think they’re able to do that. ... If they’re sanctuary cities, should they really be processing customs into their cities?”"
This comes across as nonsense, but perhaps English is not Markwayne Mullin's first language.
If you put a Bubba in charge of something, don't be surprised if they do Bubba kinds of things.
" If they’re sanctuary cities, should they really be processing customs into their cities?”
He is such a bafoon ... OK, close down "customs". - but not immigration... He doesn't know the difference between the two..... But Ben, you are supposed to be a travel blogger---dont repeat the same stupid mistake in your headline...
Its the immigration component, who cares if you can't bring your gifts in the country since there is no customs...
Yes, customs and related activities might as well be shut down immediately. The poor bastards haven’t been paid in over 60 days. Shutting them down would do them all a favor, i.e. going out and eventually finding a more survivable career.
TACO
Isn’t it time for a cardiovascular event to save us from all this madness?
Is DHS means Department of Homoland Security,
This thread is a testament to the decline of the US. A president threatens with closing customs in select US airports - and the whole discussion goes political. Everybody shouts - nobody listens. In the mean the US civilian aerospace infrastructure is crumbling, TSA not being funded, FAA shortstaffed and overworked with multiple catastrophic incidents the past year - and now customs that may or may not be operating.
No one seems to care to fix the issues.
The US is too busy funding the insatiable greed and profit to be had for never-ending wars than to address real issues.
Another example of idiots blaming the enforcer instead of the rule makers. Morons on here.
Fool says what?
Trump announces, "You have 24 hours to comply or I WILL UNLEASH EVEN CRAZIER THREATS!!"
He's gonna finally shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, isn't he?
Two things can both be true.
It's not right for Mullins to threaten shutting down customs in blue cities, and it's also not right for blue cities to implement policies to not enforce federal law.
Federal law prohibits sex trafficking of minors, but no one seems too worried about those offenders.
After all the hay conservatives made about about how states shouldn't be forced to expand Medicaid as required by ACA, to the point they won a court case on it, it's hilarious how those same conservatives are now apoplectic about states refusing to spend state money enforcing federal laws.
And to go one further, states *do not have the authority* to enforce anything related to immigration. That is solely the purview of the Federal government.
Immigration enforcement is reserved for the federal government.
As a person from outside America, that most amazing thing about America is that all your billionaires claim to be all powerful with their "fk you money", but when it the reality hits, they all file in a line and just say "how high".
Instead of just TACO, it should be called AACO going forward, "Americans Always Chickens Out"
We have democracy and the left needs to remember it. That simple.
I agree 100 percent. But instead these “sanctuary “ cities protect violent Mexican criminals and could careless about our nation.
And you freaks on the Right had better realize that we have democracy. That means opposing opinions. It also means abiding by the Constitution. You wingnuts used to like doing that.
Then the tax payers in those states might do well to refuse to file their returns. However, this is all bluster from an administration overwhelmed by its unimaginable incompetence, staring down a deep economic recession, a massive debt default, and a war it started that it has zero chance of winning.
Shouldn't have to get to that point. And I'd really really prefer we didn't go down the Balkanization route... because it usually doesn't go well... BUT, we do basically have a neo-Confederate/neo-Nazi in the White House (no, not just Trump, I mean President Miller) *facepalm*
I doubt that Mar’Quaine has ever left the US before. Pity that a clown like this is in charge of such an important agency.
Boycott the World Cup and olympics
Nice. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
And the balls.
Someone should inform the secretary that his agency is called customs and border protection.
Exactly, "protection", there's a huge internal threat right now that needs to be dealt with, leftist terrorism that is slowly eroding our country.
Is the leftist terrorism in the room with us right now?
Well, yeah, if you count me. Leftist, gay, gun owner, military veteran...I'm the man incels like JPlat are terrified of.
Markwayne Moron can't even get the name of the agency in his department (CBP) right...
At least he's not a pedophile enabler, like Secretary of Commerce Howard Nutlick, who literally brought his own kids to Epstein's Little Saint James island. Sheesh.
The level of stupidity from this administration just keeps growing by the day to levels Noone even knew was possible.
Many of us knew.
Lawlessness, crime infested sanctuary cities need to be punished. President Trump is taking the right step unless these radical soft on crime Democrat states get rid of these disgustingly named sanctuary dangerous cities destroying themselves.
Don't know if you're a troll or just a moron, but most crime stats are actually higher in red states.
It's SOLID blue cities in the red states that have all the crime.
For example...Memphis has been run by one party for the last 50 years.
And it isn't the Red party.
Andrew an ongoing study ( over 10 years ) by the new England Journal of Medicine found substance addiction highest in rural republican counties. Explains a lot.
Stand up if you believe “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,"
Sanctuary cities, states and American traitors take note.
LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!1!!!!!!1!!
"markwayne" as a first name is crazy
I will never not pronounce it Mar'quaine.
Obviously by "customs" he didn't mean the guys at the airport checking your passport but "customs" in the context of a set of beliefs and virtues. What he is saying here is that the Dept of Security will come down hard on local governments that support illegal immigration.
"What he is saying here is that the Dept of Security will come down hard on local governments that support illegal immigration."
That's not what he's saying, sweetie.
Oklahoma is the reddest state in the country in which no county elected Democrats. It is also among the ten poorest states in the country. Louisiana tops the list where the House speaker represents in the House. What have these states contributed to the nation as a whole in order to advance it on domestic front and global stage? I often read the public response to Trump's policies "unprecedented" or " ___struggle to ___". The...
Oklahoma is the reddest state in the country in which no county elected Democrats. It is also among the ten poorest states in the country. Louisiana tops the list where the House speaker represents in the House. What have these states contributed to the nation as a whole in order to advance it on domestic front and global stage? I often read the public response to Trump's policies "unprecedented" or " ___struggle to ___". The world knows more about the US than its citizens and foreigners rarely plan/ want to visit any of these states. When people ask my where I am from on overseas trips, my consistent response is " I live in CA". More than 95% of them know CA, especially the middle school boys on school field trip in Penang, Malaysia. I was stunned. Politicians excel in denial, deflection and defiance. Why should the press and public continue to take stock anything coming out of their mouths, regardless what position they hold?
It's kinda sad, because Oklahoma has a large Native American population (obviously, not a good history there, Trail of Tears), and Tulsa is formerly the site of Black Wall Street (before the race massacre by the white supremacists there in 1921), and OKC, of course, is the site of the deadliest act of homegrown terrorism (1995), so... we should be learning things from OK, but we probably aren't. *deep sigh*
Not "absurd" at all . If you have an unlocked gate , and bad guys are coming in your gate, and the city does not enforce trespassing laws , and we are at war with bad guys , seems logical to secure the gate .
Another year of the Trump administration and US aviation will be giving Egypt a run for their money.
One Mile Always About Trump.
Sigh.
The secretary of Homeland security is threatening to cut off international traffic at the nation's largest airports ahead of the world cup and the busy summer travel season. Seems relevant to be covered in a travel blog.
See look what you just did. You stated facts and told a story without mentioning Trump - it’s possible. Lucky couldn’t even make it through a headline.
Gee, almost like Trump appointed the man? Take some responsibility for your vote. You voted for this stupidity. The buck stops at Trump, why does it offend you so when others point that out?
The question would be without the hysterics that are always found here does customs within those airports follow the protocol for allowing foreigners to enter. If so, it's not the airport's fault (customs at the airports) that people overstay their visa. In the Biden years overstays was not the problem, people freely walking across the border and simply allowed out into the country was.
If they are not following protocol there should be action taken.
"Just follow orders''... got it. Thanks Georgie.
Your not dealing in good faith here, like usual. If you wanted to solve this, it'd be bi-partisan immigration reform, like Rubio back in the day (2013, gang of eight), when he wasn't a madking sycophant. Hire more judges to process asylum claims, so not 'released' as you suggest.
@George Romey
>In the Biden years overstays was not the problem, people freely walking across the border and simply allowed out into the country was.
I guess that's why Biden kept Title 42 around and drastically curtailed asylum requests for his first 2.5 years, removing more illegal border crossers by that avenue than Trump removed/deported in total during his entire first term. Biden used every avenue available to him to secure the border, while...
@George Romey
>In the Biden years overstays was not the problem, people freely walking across the border and simply allowed out into the country was.
I guess that's why Biden kept Title 42 around and drastically curtailed asylum requests for his first 2.5 years, removing more illegal border crossers by that avenue than Trump removed/deported in total during his entire first term. Biden used every avenue available to him to secure the border, while still allowing humanitarian/refugee entries that are legal under international law (that we helped write!) as a result of the horrific atrocities of WWII.
I agree wholeheartedly with this initiative. It's ridiculous that states are allowed to oppose the goverment in power in the first place.
The sooner citizenship is revolked for anyone but registered republicans only, the sooner America will become truly great again.
You forgot the ‘/s’
And if you didn’t… the irony of calling for a one-party system, while simultaneously hating adversaries like the theocratic dictatorship in Iran or China’s CCP… most anti-democratic (small ‘d’) administration ever. Trump and his supporters are anti-American.
By all means, please, PLEASE revoke my citizenship so I can claim asylum in a country with sane leaders.
If you want to leave so bad, just leave, why do you need revoking.
Unlike the dictatorships that are run by idiots, Trump and his team are doing their best to make America better than it ever was, just look at the moon visit.
Artemis II wasn't a moon visit. It was a moon drive-by.
Russia is full. Sorry.
So, can we assume that you won’t be shouting about “states’ rights” the next time a federal government attempts to enforce a law (in your state) with which you disagree?
The sooner all registered Republicans are placed in protective custody (surround Nebraska and Kansas with barbed wire and dump them in there), the better off the country will be. We in Chicago abolished the Republican Party in 1931. Time for the rest of the true United States to follow.
Some folks just have no definition of what reality is. Reread what he said versus what you wrote, Ben.
Oh, the ole 'don't take him literally, take him seriously' but also 'don't take him seriously, take him literally'... enough of that noise, Dave. This is all nonsense and distraction.
I’ve read a transcript of what the plumber from Oklahoma said. Ben’s reporting is accurate.
Mad Max: "That's bait."
ICE Barbie -> Mouth-breathin’ Markwayne means same 47 bootlicking, just not spending $200mm on an ad campaign promoting it
Not YET...
Another day from the believers of the book of Epstein.
Is America great again yet?
“Praise be to…”
Wait, so according to his statement we can glean that the airports are releasing unvetted, illegal immigrants into the cities? Sounds like the federal enforcement is the problem here, not local.
Mullin is a classic example of the knuckle dragging that goes on in this administration. Sanctuary city doesn’t mean that immigration laws aren’t enforced, it means that local law enforcement isn’t paid to do federal law enforcement’s job. But most MAGAts aren’t nuanced...
Wait, so according to his statement we can glean that the airports are releasing unvetted, illegal immigrants into the cities? Sounds like the federal enforcement is the problem here, not local.
Mullin is a classic example of the knuckle dragging that goes on in this administration. Sanctuary city doesn’t mean that immigration laws aren’t enforced, it means that local law enforcement isn’t paid to do federal law enforcement’s job. But most MAGAts aren’t nuanced enough to grasp this and so are misled by their leaders into thinking the sky is falling.
Do it right away!!!
Let's see what the results are!!!
He is talking out of his plumbers ass crack!!!
Literally what the administration is trying to do is protect Americans. But this liberal blogger doesn’t get it.
How does shutting down federal border processing at our largest ports of entry benefit Americans?
@Nolan
It doesn’t, but they need to keep putting out the same tired and untrue talking points.
Let's punish the public at large and foreign visitors for political rhetoric offered by local opposing political leadership. I understand now.
Dave chill out and take a trip to Tokyo, China
Well maybe the Dems need to start enforcing federal laws then
Immigration enforcement is a federal authority, not a state or local one.
Seriously Lucky, this is a BS headline and you know that's not what he's saying. Do better.
@ Art Vandy -- Please explain what's BS about the headline?
C'mon Lucky, it's literally in the meat of the article.
He's asked point blank if these cities will "lose their customs" and his response is to deny and deflect.
You're smart enough to recognize that:
"Well, I’m saying we’re going to have to start prioritizing things at some point" is not the same as the sensationalist "shutting down" rhetoric you use in the headline.
And, a union work slow-down isn't exactly the same as a walk-off.
Ben, Art Vandy is just upset because this is gonna massively disrupt his import/export business…
This is true but that's NOT why I'm upset.
It is exactly what Mullin's saying. Mullins will prioritize resources to the detriment of Democratic cities in order to *effectively* shut down their Customs capabilities. This president campaign against weaponizing government and he has done nothing but weaponize government since returning to office. Mullin expressly said ON CAMERA, "I don't understand why people criticize the president just because he doesn't like brown people." Think about it.
It is exactly what Mullin's saying. Mullin will prioritize resources to the detriment of Democratic cities in order to *effectively* shut down their Customs capabilities. This president campaign against weaponizing government and he has done nothing but weaponize government since returning to office. Mullin expressly said ON CAMERA, "I don't understand why people criticize the president just because he doesn't like brown people." Think about it.
Would you like salsa with that TACO?
Yes please