U.S. airlines warn proposed sanctuary city flight curbs could disrupt airport operations

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US airlines warn on sanctuary city flight curbs

Highlights

Airline, hotel, and tourism groups warn that reducing Customs and Border Protection services at Newark Liberty International Airport could disrupt operations for about 20,000 daily international passengers.
Industry groups say bottlenecks from curbed processing at Newark and other major hubs risk amplifying disruptions to both passenger travel and air cargo shipments nationwide.
Policy uncertainty persists as the proposed cuts to immigration and customs services are discussed ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup, raising concerns about possible wide-reaching travel disruptions.

Industry objections to airport processing proposal

As first reported by CNBC, airline, hotel and tourism groups are urging White House officials to abandon a plan that would reduce Customs and Border Protection services at major airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, a key United Airlines hub. United CEO Scott Kirby is set to discuss the issue with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, according to two people familiar with the previously unreported call.

Airlines for America, whose members include American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, tells White House officials that reducing Customs and Border Protection service at Newark would create havoc for travelers. A document seen by CNBC says about 20,000 passengers arrive internationally at Newark, with U.S. citizens making up the bulk of that traffic, and warns that disruptions at the connecting hub would hit heartland America more heavily than Newark itself.

The same document warns that a bottleneck at Newark could also curb air cargo shipments and that similar action in other cities would amplify the damage across the transport network. Major airline, hotel and tourism groups say removing immigration and customs processing at U.S. airports would be devastating for the industry and for travelers.

Policy uncertainty and wider travel impact

Mullin says on Fox News this week that the administration is drawing up plans to potentially cut immigration and customs processing for international flights at U.S. airports in cities the government views as too lenient on immigration enforcement. He also says no final plan or policy decision has been made.

In an interview on Fox News' "Hannity" on Tuesday night, Mullin says that if local leaders are not allowing the federal government to enforce immigration law, the administration should not be processing international flights into their cities either. The White House does not immediately comment on the proposal.

The Justice Department published a list last August of states and cities it says are impeding U.S. immigration policies, including major international air hubs such as New York, Newark, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Philadelphia. The proposal is being discussed two weeks before the U.S., Canada and Mexico are set to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup, creating uncertainty over whether any action could affect travel during a period expected to bring millions of passengers.

Our earlier article on American Airlines (AAL) highlighted the carrier’s reaffirmed 2026 profit guidance, supported by resilient premium-travel demand and stronger corporate bookings. It also noted service and fleet upgrades such as adding Starlink internet, while pointing out that the stock’s rally looked technically overbought after merger talks with United ended without a deal. Taken together, the piece framed how airline performance is being shaped by premium-demand strength even as broader industry conditions remain sensitive to policy and operational disruptions.

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