Sanctuary Cities Face Threat of Losing International Flights

DHS Secretary Mullin considers withdrawing CBP officers from airports in cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:00am

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty airport terminal with long shadows cast across the floor, evoking a sense of unease and uncertainty about the future of international air travel.The political battle over immigration enforcement threatens to disrupt international travel through some of America's busiest airports.New Orleans Today

A political standoff between the Trump administration and major American cities has thrust some of the world's most important aviation hubs into an unprecedented state of uncertainty. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has raised the possibility of withdrawing U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from international airports located in so-called 'sanctuary cities', a move that could effectively end international flight operations at up to 11 of the nation's busiest air gateways.

Why it matters

This controversial proposal could have severe ramifications for the global aviation industry and international travel, particularly with the upcoming FIFA World Cup set to bring millions of visitors to the U.S. Removing CBP officers would prevent any international flights from landing at these major airports, disrupting airline schedules and devastating local tourism economies.

The details

Secretary Mullin stated that the Trump administration is considering this measure to punish cities that ban cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, arguing that such municipalities are not lawful and should not receive federal benefits like customs processing while refusing to enforce immigration laws. The 11 airports at risk include major hubs like JFK, LAX, ORD, SFO, EWR, and others located in so-called sanctuary cities.

  • The threat comes as DHS remains shut down due to a funding lapse that began on February 14.
  • The FIFA World Cup is set to start in early June 2026, potentially bringing tens of thousands of international visitors to some of the affected airports.

The players

Markwayne Mullin

The current Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who has raised the possibility of withdrawing CBP officers from international airports in sanctuary cities.

Democratic lawmakers

Have demanded new restrictions on immigration enforcement in exchange for their votes to fund the Department of Homeland Security, leading to the ongoing government shutdown.

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What they’re saying

“If they're a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city? Seriously. If they're a sanctuary city and they're receiving international flights, and we're asking them to partner with us at the airport, but once they walk out of the airport, they're not going to enforce immigration policy, maybe we need to have a really hard look at that because we need to focus on cities that want to work with us.”

— Markwayne Mullin, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

“Right now, Democrats are wanting to defund Customs and Border Patrol. Well, who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane? I'm going to be forced to make tough decisions. Who's willing to work with us and partner with us?”

— Markwayne Mullin, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

What’s next

No formal implementation order has been issued yet, and officials have not announced a timeline or identified a specific list of targeted airports beyond the sanctuary city jurisdictions cited by Secretary Mullin. However, the aviation and travel industry is closely monitoring the situation, as any move to withdraw CBP officers could have devastating consequences for international air travel and commerce.

The takeaway

This political standoff over immigration enforcement threatens to disrupt the global aviation industry and international travel, particularly with the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The proposal raises serious questions about the legal and administrative soundness of applying city-level immigration policies to airports that may be located outside those jurisdictions.