In brief
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has threatened to withdraw CBP officers from airports in 'sanctuary cities,' sparking industry alarm over potential travel disruptions. The U.S. Travel Association and airlines warn this could cripple international aviation, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the policy 'a bad idea' and questioned its political motivation. Past attempts to cut funding to sanctuary jurisdictions have been blocked by courts, but this new threat targets personnel directly, raising fears of operational chaos at major airports.
BREAKING: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has reignited fears of a travel catastrophe by threatening to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called 'sanctuary cities,' potentially crippling international air travel. Industry leaders are in crisis mode after the Secretary confirmed the proposal during a closed-door meeting with the U.S. Travel Association, which immediately condemned it as 'devastating' to the global aviation economy.'The U.S. Travel Association believes such a move would have devastating consequences for the travel industry and communities that depend on international visitation,' the group stated Friday. Major airlines and the Airlines for America trade group joined the outcry, warning that reduced CBP staffing would 'cause significant operational disruption to carriers, travelers and the flow of international cargo.'Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was briefed on the plan but reportedly unaware of its details prior, called it 'a bad idea' and questioned its logic. 'We have people from around the world and around the country that need to be able to fly into all different kinds of places. We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics,' Duffy declared during a Congressional hearing this week. He noted the policy's political inconsistency: 'At some point Democrats will be in charge and you will all switch spots at one point — hopefully not too soon Mr. Chairman.'The threat comes amid escalating tensions over sanctuary jurisdictions. While there's no strict definition for these cities, they generally limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The Department of Justice published a list of 30+ jurisdictions it deems sanctuary, though Mullin hasn't specified which airports would be targeted. Previous attempts to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities were struck down by courts in 2017.Industry officials fear immediate consequences. The U.S. Travel Association warns the move would damage America's global economic standing, while Airlines for America cites 'disruption to carriers' and 'harm to tourism-dependent communities.' With international travel already recovering from pandemic setbacks, such a policy could trigger chaos at major airports, particularly affecting the U.S.'s ability to host global business and tourism.PulseWire's crowdsource map shows major airports in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas are at high risk of staff reductions. Travelers are urged to monitor updates as the administration prepares to clarify its stance. Meanwhile, advocacy groups are organizing protests outside federal offices, demanding the policy be abandoned before it causes real-world disruptions.*This article has been verified through multiple crowdsource reports and is updated continuously. Submit your eyewitness observations to @pulsewire_news using #TravelCrisis.*" }
