Homeland Security official reiterates plan to remove border officers from sanctuary city airports

A Homeland Security official said the agency is considering withdrawing Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in sanctuary jurisdictions. The U.S. Travel Association stated that the official confirmed the possibility during a meeting where the group raised concerns about other administration proposals affecting travel.

Industry response The U.S.

Travel Association said such a move would have devastating consequences for the travel industry and communities that depend on international visitation. Airlines for America stated that reducing CBP staffing at major airports would cause significant operational disruption to carriers, travelers, and the flow of international cargo.

The official added that people from around the world need to be able to fly into different kinds of places without air travel being shut down in jurisdictions that disagree with federal policies.

Background on sanctuary policies Sanctuary policies generally describe limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Courts rejected an earlier federal effort to cut funding from such jurisdictions in 2017. The Justice Department last year published a list of three dozen states, cities, and counties it considers sanctuary jurisdictions.

Details of the recent meeting were first reported by The Atlantic. It remains unclear which specific airports might be affected or how much support the proposal has within the administration.