Travel industry worries after Trump administration reiterates threat to sanctuary city airports
Yahoo • • nation
Key Points:
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has threatened to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from airports in "sanctuary cities," a move that could disrupt international flights and alarm the travel industry.
- The U.S. Travel Association and major airlines condemned the proposal, warning it would have devastating economic consequences and operational disruptions for airlines, travelers, and international cargo.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed skepticism about Mullin's remarks, emphasizing that restricting travel based on political views would be harmful and that air travel should remain open regardless of local political stances.
- The Trump administration has previously attempted to withhold funding from sanctuary cities, but courts have blocked such efforts, and it remains unclear how much support Mullin's airport staffing proposal has within the administration.
- The Justice Department has identified around three dozen jurisdictions as sanctuary areas, but specific cities or airports targeted by Mullin have not been disclosed.