Mullin Weighs CBP Cuts at Sanctuary-City Airports After World Cup, Threatening 7 Million Traveler Flows
Updated
Updated · The Atlantic · May 21
Mullin Weighs CBP Cuts at Sanctuary-City Airports After World Cup, Threatening 7 Million Traveler Flows
6 articles · Updated · The Atlantic · May 21
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told airline and travel executives last week he may reduce Customs and Border Protection staffing at airports serving sanctuary jurisdictions, including JFK, Newark, Dulles and Portland.
The pullback would likely come after July's World Cup, when DHS expects to process as many as 7 million international travelers and is already strained after a 76-day funding shutdown.
Mullin has cast the idea as leverage to force cities to cooperate with ICE at jails and airports, part of a broader Trump administration push to revive deportations while arrests and removals have slipped since January.
Airline and travel officials warned the plan could trigger cancellations, cargo disruption and rerouting chaos because major non-sanctuary airports lack gates, staff and connections to absorb diverted international traffic.
The proposal could widen economic damage far beyond targeted cities and reopen a politically risky airport fight as Trump's approval on immigration has weakened.
How will reducing customs staff at key airports affect the upcoming World Cup and America's global image?
With global logistics strained, how would targeting US airports impact the international supply chain and economy?
U.S. Threat to Pull CBP Officers from Sanctuary City Airports: Risks to International Travel, Economy, and the 2026 World Cup
Overview
In late May 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin proposed withdrawing U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in sanctuary cities, arguing that local policies limiting immigration enforcement are illegal. This plan could affect major international airports like JFK, LAX, and others, making it impossible to process international arrivals and effectively halting inbound flights. Such a move would cause major disruptions to global commerce and tourism. However, as of late May 2026, the proposal’s status remains uncertain, with no formal communication to affected airports and no clear timeline for implementation.