Trump's ex-border chief opposes MAGA scheme to paralyze airports — for a surprising reason

President Donald Trump's new Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, is now actively floating the idea of stripping international airports in liberal cities of Customs and Border Protection officers, paralyzing their ability to accept international flights until they agree to roll back "sanctuary" laws limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration agents.

But the plan has a surprise opponent in Gregory Bovino, the former Border Patrol commander who oversaw Trump's invasion of Minneapolis. Not because he has any respect for cities' right to adopt sanctuary laws, however.

In a lengthy post to X on Wednesday, Bovino outlined why he believes Mullin's threat would actually be a win for the left.

"Pulling CBP from JFK, LAX, etc. admits defeat," wrote Bovino. "Instead of forcing compliance, you retreat and hand them the win. Even in Newark, they’re hesitating with protests, hunger strikes, and slow action. The green team shuts them down immediately."

"This stunt delivers chaos and pain while sanctuary cities get to cling to their failure to comply," Bovino added. "Real winning is decisive enforcement. Not symbolic retreats."

Mullin's threats have largely been met with astonishment from experts, who point out that obstructing international flights at a handful of large airports would destabilize the entire nationwide air traffic system and cause a breakdown of scheduling at airports in Republican-controlled cities and states as well.