WASHINGTON - The US Department of Homeland Security has threatened to curtail customs processing at airports in so-called sanctuary cities in order to bring them in line with the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Removing US Customs and Border Protection staff that handle passport control and inspect luggage of international travelers would force airlines to cancel or re-route some flights. If enacted, the move stands to affect some of the busiest airports in the country, including John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International in the New York metropolitan area, as well as Washington Dulles International Airport.

“Reducing CBP staffing at major airports would have a devastating effect on the airline and tourism industries, causing a significant operational disruption to carriers, travelers and the flow of international cargo,” Airlines for America, a group that represents the largest US carriers, said in a statement.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin brought up the plan in a meeting on May 13 that was arranged by the US Travel Association, according to people familiar with the gathering. Attendees included major US airline and hotel executives, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the meeting wasn’t public.

Portland International Airport in Oregon would likely be one of the first targets for cuts, two of the people said, while JFK in New York is another, said one person.

The US Travel Association said in a statement that it’s in discussions with the department “on a variety of travel matters.”

“On domestic and international inbound travel alike, we urge governments at all levels to adopt policies that promote the free and efficient flow of legitimate travelers,” the group said.

A representative for the DHS referred to Mullin’s comments on the Special Report segment.

Enacting a pullback of customs services from major international gateways stands to severely harm global travel flows and undercut cargo shipments to the US. Many international passengers also use hubs like JFK for transfers, and the DHS move would create a significant ripple effect for smaller cities that rely on feeder traffic from big hubs.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was asked about the idea during a congressional hearing Thursday. He said he wasn’t familiar with the comments and would like to discuss them directly with Mullin first.

At the same time, Duffy said “we shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics,” adding that administrations change and such a policy likely wouldn’t survive the next one. (Source: Bloomberg)

Story Date: May 22, 2026