DHS threatens to halt customs processing at airports in sanctuary cities
Major airports across the country could soon freeze customs processing and cancel all international flights if sanctuary cities continue bucking federal immigration enforcement operations.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that he might pull out Customs and Border Patrol agents from airports in sanctuary cities. CBP agents are responsible for performing security inspections of international travelers, so a complete withdrawal would cripple airports’ processing of international flights.
Mullin said that because sanctuary cities forbid local law enforcement from working with federal immigration agents and generally allow rowdy protests against agents, DHS will “have to decide where we’re going to prioritize our federal employees.”
“We’ve got to prioritize federal police officers, and that may affect international flights coming in and out of their airport. Because I’m going to have to pull Customs and Border Protection officers out of being able to process international flights and put them helping our ICE agents,” Mullin told FOX News in a clip posted Thursday.
“If things don’t change, we’re going to have to make this step pretty quick,” he added. “Because I’m not going to put my employees and my ICE agents at risk.”
Mullin’s plan, if carried out, would force airlines to halt all international flights to the impacted airports, triggering an economic and logistical nightmare for the airline and tourism industries.
Airports DHS would target include New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport; Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport; Boston’s Logan International Airport; Denver International Airport; Philadelphia International Airport; Newark Liberty International Airport; Los Angeles International Airport; San Francisco International Airport; Portland International Airport; Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; and potentially others.
Removing CBP agents from those airports would also create a ripple effect on airports in non-sanctuary jurisdictions. Those airports could get overwhelmed by increased flights and passengers rerouted from the international travel hubs targeted by DHS.
Mullin’s ultimatum is the latest example of the Trump administration pressuring Democrat-led states and cities to comply with federal immigration enforcement operations.
The administration has sued multiple jurisdictions in California, Illinois, New York, Colorado for enacting policies that violate federal immigration law. President Donald Trump has also threatened to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities.
Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Justice Department drops Federal Reserve probe, kicks to watchdog
Pritzker: ‘Need for speed’ for megaprojects bill with tax breaks
NYC schools probed over claims of antisemitism
Lusciatti, Spee Lead Lincoln-Way West to Thrilling Third-Place Finish at Minooka Conference Clash
Illinois Quick Hits: AFP says tax breaks would be more at Soldier Field
Soldier’s insider trading case puts prediction markets to the test
U.S. will continue blockade ‘as long as it takes,’ Hegseth says
Will County Takes Jurisdiction of Countyline Road in $1.84 Million Agreement with Kankakee County
Green Garden Township’s Wildflower Farm Granted Third Special Use Extension
Gori seeks quick end to asbestos fraud, lawsuit ‘bounties’ case
Texas Ten Commandments law may reach Supreme Court
Feds reopen probe into LAUSD race-based program
