Homeland Security Secretary Mullin has floated a plan to strip customs officers from airports in so‑called sanctuary cities. Business groups warn the move would cripple hubs such as Boston, New York and Los Angeles, blocking international arrivals and sending shock waves through the travel economy. The proposal targets 18 airports that handle 68 million passengers yearly.

Industry leaders cite an estimated $8 billion annual loss for Newark alone and warn that a full shutdown could jeopardize over $70 billion of U.S. economic activity. The U.S. Travel Association and Chamber of Commerce argue that customs must stay to process cargo and passengers, noting that removing officers would spread chaos across the nation’s air network.

Mullin cites protests outside Newark’s Delaney Hall detention center as justification, claiming local police will not cooperate. Opponents point out that a recent Trump‑era move expanded customs screening at Kennedy Airport for Ebola‑stricken regions, showing a different federal stance. The debate hinges on whether political pressure should dictate operational capabilities at the country’s busiest ports of entry.

If executed, airlines would face costly rerouting, delayed schedules, and passenger cancellations, straining logistics that already handle 9.3 million international flights annually. Airports would need to absorb additional customs staff, driving operational costs upward. Investors watching the sector will scrutinize the move as a signal of regulatory volatility that could depress travel‑industry revenues and reshape airport profitability.