Trump Administration Moves to Remove Customs from Sanitation Cities’ Airports
The Trump administration’s latest immigration enforcement strategy targets major U.S. airports located in cities that have adopted sanctuary policies. In a Fox News interview in April, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullins announced that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers might be withdrawn from international terminals in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.
CBP officers are the sole federal agency that screens people, baggage and cargos entering the United States. The removal of CBP staff would mean those airports could no longer legally accept international flights, leading to rerouting, cancellations and widespread supply‑chain disruptions.
GOP senators have largely backed Mullins’ proposal. Lindsey Graham and Deb Fischer praised the move as a necessary consequence for cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Indiana Senator Jim Banks said he was “on to something” while Missouri’s Josh Hawley expressed uncertainty.
Within the administration, transportation officials urge restraint. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that “shutting down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics” would be detrimental. Border czar Tom Homan, however, pledged support for the plan, noting that it would allow the Department to more effectively manage cities that fail to enforce federal law.
Opposition has been swift and vocal. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill called the proposal “completely ridiculous,” while trade groups—representing airlines, shipping and tourism—released a joint letter in May caution that reducing CBP operations at national gateways would “dangerously ripple across the country,” affecting travelers, cargo shipments and local economies.
Trade associations including the American Association of Airport Executives, the U.S. Travel Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have all urged the Department of Homeland Security to abandon the plan. Industry experts argue that the limited number of major gateways means any disruption would create cascading delays nationwide.
As of now, the proposal remains under discussion with no operational changes enacted. Analysts warn that even the threat of CBP withdrawal could destabilize the international aviation network, cascading into economic fallout beyond the targeted cities.