DHS Considers Halting International Travelers at 'Sanctuary City' Airports

Move could disrupt global travel and commerce, especially ahead of FIFA World Cup

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A dynamic, fragmented painting depicting the motion and chaos of an airport terminal, with overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes in shades of blue, gray, and white, conveying the potential disruption to international travel and commerce.A proposed DHS policy to halt international travel at 'sanctuary city' airports could disrupt global commerce and the upcoming FIFA World Cup.Asheville Today

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering not processing international travelers at airports located in so-called 'sanctuary cities' that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the move could make these cities more 'efficient' by not wasting resources on travelers they won't detain. The decision could effectively halt international air travel and commerce at major airports in Democratic-led states, with potential ripple effects on the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Why it matters

This proposal is the latest escalation in the ongoing partisan battle over immigration enforcement, with the Trump administration seeking to punish 'sanctuary cities' that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The move could have major economic and logistical consequences, disrupting global travel and commerce, especially ahead of the high-profile FIFA World Cup.

The details

Mullin said the DHS is examining 'every aspect' of its operations to find 'waste' and improve 'efficiency,' and that processing international travelers in sanctuary cities 'doesn't make any sense' if those cities won't enforce immigration laws. The DOJ published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions in 2025 that included many cities with major international airports, such as Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Seattle and San Francisco.

  • The DHS is considering this proposal as of April 7, 2026.
  • The FIFA World Cup is set to start in early June 2026.

The players

Markwayne Mullin

The current U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who initiated the crackdown on sanctuary cities that is now being escalated by the DHS.

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What they’re saying

“When we start looking at sanctuary cities, as I said, if they're not enforcing immigration laws, then why would I be processing immigration in their city and turn them loose in their city?”

— Markwayne Mullin, Department of Homeland Security Secretary

“If cities are going to sit there and say that they're not going to enforce immigration policies, then I'll repeat myself and say it doesn't make any sense for us to process international travelers through that city anymore.”

— Markwayne Mullin, Department of Homeland Security Secretary

What’s next

The DHS is expected to make a final decision on this proposal in the coming weeks, ahead of the start of the FIFA World Cup in June.

The takeaway

This move represents the latest escalation in the long-running battle between the federal government and 'sanctuary cities' over immigration enforcement. If implemented, it could have severe economic and logistical consequences, disrupting global travel and commerce at some of the busiest international airports in the country.