Overview
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Tuesday that DHS is "drawing up plans" to stop customs and immigration processing for international flights at jurisdictions the administration labels as sanctuary cities.
- No formal policy has been adopted and officials say implementation is uncertain as the plan faces major operational and legal obstacles that could delay any action.
- Major travel groups and airlines warned the move would cause severe cancellations and cargo disruption, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy publicly called the idea a bad one.
- Legal analysts and advocates say the proposal likely exceeds statutory and constitutional limits and would prompt rapid lawsuits challenging the department’s authority.
- The proposal grew out of clashes at Newark’s Delaney Hall and follows earlier private briefings to airlines and a spring funding standoff in which the idea was floated.