The Trump administration is preparing immigration crackdowns with devastating effects on many major airports
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the Trump administration is developing plans to end the detention of international travelers and cargo at major U.S. airports located in “sanctuary cities” that have refused to cooperate with measures to combat illegal immigration, reports Reuters.
The measure could effectively halt international air traffic and trade at major airports in the Democratic-led states as millions of foreign tourists are expected to arrive for the start of the FIFA World Cup next month.
Mullin said in an interview broadcast by Fox News on Tuesday that he had met with White House officials, but stressed that no decision had yet been made on whether to implement the measure.
“Right now — although we haven't initiated anything yet — we're making plans,” Mullin said.
Major international airports are targeted
“We shouldn't be processing international flights to their cities,” he added, referring to sanctuary cities, where he suggested “local far-left Democrats are not allowing us to do our jobs and enforce federal laws.”
Last week, Reuters and other publications reported that Mullin had privately told U.S. travel industry executives that his department might opt to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement's processing of international travelers.
The US Department of Justice published a list of so-called “sanctuary” cities and states, which included many cities with major international airports.
These included Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Seattle and San Francisco.
Mullin first made the threat publicly in April during a dispute over his department's funding, but said Tuesday that the idea was under consideration.
Democrats say reforms are needed to end abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including the killing of two US citizens in Minneapolis in January.
Tourism campaigns: The consequences would be devastating
The US Travel Association, which represents major airlines, hotels, rental car companies and other travel companies, said Friday that its representatives had met with Mullin.
Mullin “confirmed his previous statements that the administration is considering withdrawing CBP officers from international airports in certain sanctuary cities,” the US Travel Association added in a statement to Reuters.
It also signaled the devastating consequences for the tourism industry and communities dependent on international foreign tourists.
Last year, more than 50 million international travelers arrived at New York's three main airports alone.
Cutting customs staff at major airports would significantly disrupt airline operations, passenger and international cargo flow, Airlines for America, a grouping of major passenger and cargo airlines, said last week.
