DHS Secretary Discusses Potential Funding Withholding from Sanctuary Cities

<p>Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated on September 2, 2026, that the White House is considering legal methods to withhold federal funding from sanctuary states and cities that do not cooperate with immigration enforcement. This announcement followed the arrests of over 2,100 illegal immigrants in New York, with Mullin emphasizing that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will proceed with deportations despite local sanctuary policies.</p><p>Mullin mentioned during an appearance on "The Ingraham Angle" that he had recently discussed this issue in the Oval Office. He questioned the rationale behind providing federal funding to sanctuary cities, particularly in relation to processing immigration at international airports.</p><p>Since President Donald Trump began his second term, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiated several deportation operations, including one in New York called Operation Rotten Apple, which resulted in over 2,100 arrests. These arrests included individuals charged with serious offenses such as murder, rape, child sexual abuse, and drug trafficking.</p><p>Mullin indicated that Trump and other administration officials are exploring ways to enforce funding cuts for sanctuary cities that do not comply with federal immigration laws. He stated, "President Trump is looking for ways... to hold federal funding from these sanctuary cities that are refusing to just simply do one thing: uphold the law of the land."</p><p>He further asserted that he enforces the laws passed by Congress and criticized liberal politicians and sanctuary jurisdictions for their opposition to the work performed by ICE agents. According to DHS, one of the individuals arrested during the New York operation was a Ukrainian national with a history of serious criminal convictions, while another suspect from Colombia had prior arrests related to child endangerment.</p>