UMVA has learned that the administration is drafting a bold plan to suspend immigration and customs processing at airports located in sanctuary cities governed by Democratic officials.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a news host that federal authorities are being stonewalled in these jurisdictions, prompting a proposal to halt processing of international flights into those hubs.
“In cities where the local radical left won’t let us enforce federal law, we shouldn’t be processing international arrivals,” Mullin said, emphasizing the perceived contradiction of allowing airport processing while blocking enforcement on the ground.
The sweeping measure would affect some of the nation’s busiest gateways—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Denver, Philadelphia and Newark—potentially reshaping travel for millions of visitors.
With the FIFA World Cup set to draw unprecedented numbers of international fans in June, the timing could create a logistical nightmare for both passengers and cargo shipments destined for the United States.
Sanctuary jurisdictions have long limited cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a stance that the administration argues endangers public safety by shielding individuals accused of serious crimes.
Legal analysts note that the Department of Justice has previously identified several states and cities as obstructing federal immigration enforcement, adding weight to the current push.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the proposal would not only stop passenger processing but also suspend cargo handling at the targeted airports, striking at a critical node of trade and tourism.
Earlier discussions hinted at a similar strategy—removing Customs and Border Protection operations from major international airports unless local officials comply with federal immigration law.
