Overview
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in late May that he is “drawing up plans” to remove U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from international terminals in jurisdictions the administration labels as sanctuary cities, a proposal that has not been approved.
- Airlines, travel groups, and airport officials warn the move would prevent processing of arriving international passengers and cargo, force reroutes or cancellations, overload alternate hubs, and create broad operational chaos.
- The U.S. Travel Association estimated that pulling CBP from Newark alone could cost about $8 billion a year in tourism spending, and industry groups told White House and DHS officials the proposal would have a “devastating” effect on carriers and supply chains.
- Senior administration figures including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA leadership have publicly opposed the plan, and lawyers and aviation experts say federal law, DOJ sanctuary lists, limited airport capacity, and likely court challenges create steep legal and logistical barriers.
- Timing adds urgency because the plan is being discussed weeks before the FIFA World Cup, leaving travelers, airlines, and cities at risk of disruption and raising questions about how federal-local immigration disputes could affect ordinary passengers returning home or traveling for major events.