The travel industry is expressing concern due to recent statements by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Mullin suggested the possibility of withdrawing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities.” This move could affect international flights significantly.
The U.S. Travel Association reported Mullin’s consideration during a meeting aimed at addressing various proposals from the Trump administration. These proposals could impact travel operations unfavorably. Both the U.S. Travel Association and major airlines have criticized the idea. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also questioned the rationale behind it.
“U.S. Travel believes such a move would have devastating consequences for the travel industry and communities that depend on international visitation,” the association noted. The details from this meeting were initially reported by The Atlantic.
During a recent Congressional hearing, Duffy stated he was unfamiliar with Mullin’s comments and sought more context. He emphasized that restricting travel based on political views could be problematic. “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,” Duffy remarked.
It remains uncertain how much support this idea has within the administration. President Donald Trump had previously threatened to withhold funds from sanctuary cities. Sanctuary policies generally imply limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Previous attempts by Trump to cut funding to these cities were blocked by the courts in 2017.
The specific cities and airports Mullin might target are not yet clear. Last year, the Justice Department identified a list of three dozen states, cities, and counties as sanctuary jurisdictions.
The Airlines for America trade group expressed concern over the potential impact on the economy and travel. They warned that reducing CBP staffing at major airports could severely disrupt airline and tourism sectors, affecting both operations and international cargo flows.