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The Trump administration is reportedly continuing to explore a controversial proposal that could dramatically reshape international air travel in the United States by restricting customs operations at airports located in so-called “sanctuary cities.” According to a report from The Atlantic, newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin recently met with airline and travel industry executives to discuss the potential plan, which could begin taking shape after the 2026 World Cup concludes this summer.
The proposal would reportedly involve reducing or eliminating customs and immigration processing at airports located in cities viewed by the administration as limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. While there is no formal legal definition of a “sanctuary city,” the administration maintains a list of jurisdictions it considers non-cooperative.
That list includes several of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas and aviation hubs, including Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Denver International Airport (DEN), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
If implemented, the move could have sweeping implications for airlines that rely heavily on coastal international gateways. Major carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines operate large portions of their international networks through airports potentially affected by the proposal. Industry observers have questioned both the legality and practicality of the idea, particularly given the economic importance of international aviation and the logistical challenges involved in shifting customs operations away from some of the busiest airports in the world.
The proposal first surfaced several weeks ago during comments made on Fox News, where Mullin suggested the administration could use customs operations as leverage against sanctuary jurisdictions. At the time, many viewed the remarks as political rhetoric. However, reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now discussing the concept directly with industry executives suggest the administration may be seriously evaluating the idea.
Critics argue the plan could create massive disruptions to global travel and airline operations. Without customs facilities, airports would be unable to process arriving international passengers and effectively prevent most overseas flights from operating into those cities.
For airlines like United, whose international network depends heavily on hubs including Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the impact could be especially severe. Analysts note that carriers would potentially be forced to consolidate international operations into a smaller number of unaffected airports, such as Miami International Airport (MIA) or Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Anthony’s Take: At this stage, no formal policy changes have been announced and it remains unclear whether the administration has the authority or political support necessary to carry out such a sweeping move. Still, the fact that discussions are reportedly continuing behind closed doors has intensified concern across the airline and travel industries. I don’t see this becoming anything, but who really knows.
(Featured Image Credit: United Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
