By David Shepardson
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, privately warned authorities that they could stop processing international travelers and cargo at major U.S. airports located in “sanctuary cities” that have refused to cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown campaign, sources told Reuters.
Mullin, who had publicly made this threat in April during a dispute over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, told travel industry leaders last week that the department might decide to suspend customs and immigration checks for international travelers at airports in cities such as Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Seattle, and San Francisco.
The Atlantic had previously reported on Mullin’s comments to travel industry leaders, citing sources that indicated this measure would likely be implemented sometime after the end of the World Cup in the U.S. in July.
The DHS declined to comment.
Airlines for America, representing major passenger and cargo airlines, stated that “reducing staffing levels at large airports would have a devastating effect on the aviation and tourism sectors, causing significant operational disruption for carriers, travelers, and the flow of international cargo.”
U.S. Travel, representing major airlines, hotel chains, car rental companies, and other stakeholders, said: “Whether it’s domestic or international travel to the United States, we urge governments at all levels to adopt policies that promote the free and efficient movement of legitimate travelers.”
The Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, stated during a hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday that he was not aware of Mullin’s comments and did not support them.
“We should not disrupt air traffic in a state that disagrees with our policy,” Duffy said.
More than 50 million international travelers arrived at just the three major airports in New York last year.
