Mullin Weighs Pulling 20,000-Passenger Newark CBP Staff as World Cup Nears
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 30
Mullin Weighs Pulling 20,000-Passenger Newark CBP Staff as World Cup Nears
5 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 30
Newark Liberty could lose Customs and Border Protection officers under a plan Mullin floated to shift them to ICE duties, raising fears of flight cancellations and severe disruption to international arrivals.
CBP airport officers are separate from immigration enforcement staff, and officials say reassigning them to Delaney Hall would strain passenger processing at a major gateway just two weeks before World Cup matches begin in the U.S.
Airlines, travel groups and FAA chief Bryan Bedford warned rerouting flights is not feasible on short notice because Northeast airports are near capacity and Newark's connecting network cannot be easily replicated elsewhere.
Newark handles more than 20,000 international passengers a day and nearly $100 million in daily imports, according to industry data shared with the administration, amplifying concerns about supply-chain and economic fallout.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill called the idea "completely ridiculous" even as she moved to create protest zones around Delaney Hall, while the White House said there are no new policy announcements and any decision rests with Trump.
Is America's welcome to millions of World Cup fans at risk from a logistical breakdown at its own airports?
As the World Cup looms, could a customs staff shuffle at Newark trigger a global travel and trade crisis?
Federal CBP Withdrawal from Sanctuary Cities Imperils Newark Airport, 50 Million Travelers, and U.S. Economy
Overview
The crisis at Newark Liberty International Airport began with the opening of Delaney Hall, a large private immigration detention center in Newark, which quickly became controversial due to alleged inhumane conditions. State officials tried to inspect the facility but were blocked from conducting a full review, leading to rising tensions and reports of a detainee hunger strike. These events sparked protests and a standoff between federal and local authorities, eventually prompting the federal government to threaten the withdrawal of Customs and Border Protection officers from Newark and other sanctuary cities. This move now threatens to disrupt international travel and trigger major economic and political fallout.