Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced Tuesday that he is developing plans to halt the processing of international flights in sanctuary cities, citing protests at an immigration detention facility in New Jersey as justification for the potential policy change.

For five days, activists have gathered outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark to protest conditions inside the facility. The demonstrations have included confrontations with federal agents, and Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) was pepper sprayed during one of the weekend protests while observing the situation.

The protesters have been calling attention to what they describe as poor conditions within the detention facility, though federal officials have rejected these concerns. The demonstrations have involved activists blocking access to the facility, leading to tensions with immigration enforcement personnel.

Mullin's proposed policy would affect major metropolitan areas that have declared themselves sanctuary jurisdictions, including New York City. Such a move would represent a significant escalation in the federal government's response to local policies that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement.

Meanwhile, in New York state, Nassau County officials and sheriffs are threatening legal action against Governor Kathy Hochul's efforts to ban the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement agencies to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The sheriffs have expressed strong opposition to ending this cooperation agreement.

The developments reflect broader tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and local policies in jurisdictions that have adopted sanctuary city designations or limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities.