The travel industry is on high alert after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin mentioned the possibility of withdrawing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from airports in “sanctuary cities.” This action could threaten international flight operations.
Mullin’s comments came during a meeting with the U.S. Travel Association, where the group expressed its concerns about several Trump administration proposals that could negatively affect travel. Both U.S. Travel and major airlines immediately opposed the idea, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also criticized it, describing it as nonsensical.
According to a statement by the U.S. Travel Association, such a move would severely impact the travel industry and the many communities relying on international tourism. The Atlantic initially reported the details of this meeting.
During a recent Congressional hearing, Duffy admitted his unfamiliarity with Mullin’s statements and expressed interest in understanding the context. He stated that restricting travel over political disagreements is misguided, emphasizing that both Republicans and Democrats will alternate in leadership roles.
“We have people from around the world and around the country that need to be able to fly into all different kinds of places. We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics,” said Duffy.
Despite President Donald Trump’s past threats to cut funding from sanctuary cities, it’s unclear how much support Mullin’s idea has within the administration. The concept of sanctuary cities involves limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and courts have previously blocked funding cuts to these cities.
The exact cities and airports targeted by Mullin remain unspecified. However, the Justice Department has previously identified several states, cities, and counties as sanctuary jurisdictions.
The Airlines for America trade group quickly highlighted the potential negative consequences of this idea. “Reducing CBP staffing at major airports would have a devastating effect on the airline and tourism industries,” they stated. Such a reduction could cause major disruptions to airlines, travelers, and international cargo flow.