U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin proposed withdrawing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from international airports in Democratic-run cities [1, 2].
The proposal targets major hubs in states such as New York, Massachusetts, and California. If implemented, the move could disrupt international travel and national security protocols at some of the busiest gateways in the country [1, 2].
Mullin said the plan on Fox News during the last week of May [1, 3]. The initiative is part of a broader Trump administration immigration strategy designed to pressure sanctuary cities that have refused to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement [2, 3].
National security experts and the airline industry have responded with sharp criticism. One national security expert said the proposal was "shockingly naive or dumb" [3]. Critics said that removing federal customs officers from international arrivals would create operational chaos for travelers and compromise border integrity [2, 3].
The timing of the proposal coincides with a period of high international traffic. Millions of foreign tourists are expected to arrive in June for the FIFA World Cup [2]. Airline officials said that the absence of CBP officers would cripple the ability to process these arrivals efficiently [2, 3].
Potential targets for the withdrawal include international hubs in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles [1, 2]. These cities have frequently clashed with the federal government over sanctuary policies, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and the administration is using the presence of CBP officers as leverage [2, 3].
Secretary Mullin has not yet announced a formal timeline for the withdrawal, but the proposal has already triggered warnings from industry leaders regarding the potential for massive delays and security gaps at the border [1, 3].
“"shockingly naive or dumb"”
This proposal signals an escalation in the conflict between the federal government and sanctuary cities, shifting the pressure from local law enforcement to the critical infrastructure of international travel. By leveraging CBP presence, the administration is attempting to force municipal compliance with federal immigration mandates, even at the risk of disrupting global commerce and tourism during a major international sporting event.
