DHS Considers Reallocating Customs Officers From Airports in Sanctuary Cities to Support ICE
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has proposed pulling Customs and Border Protection staff from airports in sanctuary jurisdictions, with Newark Liberty International Airport under immediate review. Industry groups warn of nationwide travel disruption if the plan advances.
NewsweekThe Department of Homeland Security is considering pulling Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in some sanctuary cities. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has pushed the proposal to scale back or withdraw customs processing at airports in sanctuary jurisdictions. Newark Liberty International Airport has become the immediate flashpoint for the proposal.
Mullin has suggested reallocating CBP officers from Newark Liberty International Airport to support ICE operations linked to protests at a nearby detention facility. Newark Liberty International Airport is a major hub for passenger travel and cargo. The airport handles tens of thousands of international arrivals daily.
U.S. Travel Association, and the Cargo Airline Association urged DHS to avoid any action that could have operational and economic consequences.
U.S. Travel Association met with Mullin and confirmed that the administration is considering withdrawing customs officers from some major international airports. U.S. S. ” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy publicly opposed the idea at a congressional hearing last week.
A Department of Justice list published in 2025 identified multiple cities with major international airports that could fall into the sanctuary category. Los Angeles International Airport is in a sanctuary jurisdiction.
O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport in Chicago are in sanctuary jurisdictions. John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York City are in sanctuary jurisdictions.
The White House has not approved the policy. Any final decision on the policy rests with the president. There are no imminent plans to implement the proposal.
The proposal is seen internally as one option rather than a finalized policy. There is no confirmed timeline for any rollout.
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