The Trump administration is weighing a proposal that could suspend customs and immigration processing for international travelers and cargo at major airports located in so-called sanctuary cities, according to comments made Tuesday by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Mullin said discussions are underway inside the administration, though he stressed that no final decision has been made.
“We are currently, which we’re not initiating yet, but we’re currently drawing up plans,” as per Mullin. He added that cities limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement should not continue receiving international flights if local leaders “aren’t allowing us to do our job and enforce federal laws.”
The proposal would target sanctuary jurisdictions, a term often used by Republicans to describe cities and states that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. A Justice Department list released recently included several major metropolitan areas with large international airports, including Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Seattle and San Francisco.
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If implemented, the move could significantly disrupt international air travel and cargo operations at some of the country’s busiest airports. The timing has also raised concerns across the travel industry as the United States prepares to welcome millions of visitors for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup events.
Reuters and other outlets reported last week that Mullin had privately discussed the possibility with travel industry executives. The U.S. Travel Association later confirmed those conversations in a statement, saying administration officials are considering pulling Customs and Border Protection officers from certain airports in sanctuary cities.
The group warned that such a decision would have severe consequences for airlines, tourism businesses and local economies that rely heavily on international visitors. More than 50 million international travelers passed through the three major New York-area airports last year alone.
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Airlines for America, which represents major passenger and cargo carriers, also cautioned that reducing customs staffing at major airports would create major operational challenges for airlines, travelers and international shipping networks.
Democrats and immigrant rights advocates have continued pushing for changes to federal immigration enforcement practices, arguing that stronger oversight is needed for agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).