CBP officers withdrawal plan alarms US travel industry and airlines over sanctuary city airports

The US travel sector has raised concerns after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin repeated a threat involving airport staffing. Markwayne Mullin said US Customs and Border Protection officers could be pulled from airports in so-called sanctuary cities. Industry groups warned the move could disrupt international flights and reduce overseas travel to affected areas.

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The US Travel Association said Markwayne Mullin discussed the idea during a meeting with the trade group. US Travel said it had been urging the administration to reconsider other proposals that may slow travel. US Travel said the discussion included possible withdrawal of Customs and Border Protection CBP officers, and it warned of major fallout.

Sanctuary cities and CBP officers at airports

US Travel said on Friday that removing CBP staff could damage tourism and local economies. The group said communities that rely on international visitors could face severe losses. Major airlines also opposed the idea soon after it surfaced. Details of the meeting were first reported by The Atlantic.

The Airlines for America trade group said the plan would also affect cargo and airport operations. "Reducing CBP staffing at major airports would have a devastating effect on the airline and tourism industries, causing a significant operational disruption to carriers, travellers and the flow of international cargo.\"

Sanctuary cities and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy response

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also criticised the concept, while saying more context was needed. At a Congressional hearing earlier this week, Sean Duffy said he was not familiar with Markwayne Mullin’s remarks. Sean Duffy said he wanted to learn the context and may ask Markwayne Mullin what was meant.

Sean Duffy told lawmakers that limiting travel over politics was a poor approach. \"After all, at some point Democrats will be in charge and you will all switch spots at one point - hopefully not too soon Mr Chairman, Duffy said.\" Sean Duffy added, \"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 shouldnt shut down air travel in a state that doesnt agree with our politics, Duffy said.\"

Sanctuary cities and Trump administration background

It remains unclear how widely Markwayne Mullin’s idea is backed inside the administration. President Donald Trump has earlier threatened to withhold funding from sanctuary cities. There is no fixed definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities. The terms often refer to limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Courts have rejected past efforts to penalise sanctuary jurisdictions by cutting funds. During President Donald Trump’s first term, courts blocked a 2017 attempt to reduce funding to cities. Markwayne Mullin has not specified which cities or airports could be targeted. The Justice Department last year listed about three dozen states, cities, and counties it called sanctuary jurisdictions.

Industry groups said the proposal could create airport delays and broader economic costs. Airlines and travel bodies warned that international services depend on stable border processing. They also flagged risks for travellers and cargo networks. For now, key details, including targets and timing, have not been confirmed by the administration.

With inputs from PTI