President Donald Trump's administration is analyzing a measure that could transform international air traffic in the United States and generate strong economic repercussions in cities governed by Democrats.

The Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, confirmed that the government is studying suspending immigration and customs processing at airports located in so-called “sanctuary cities,” jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

During an interview on Fox News, Mullin noted that White House officials are already discussing possible scenarios, although he clarified that there is still no final decision. As explained, the proposal contemplates withdrawing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel from certain international airports, which in practice could affect the entry of foreign travelers and the movement of commercial cargo.

“We should not be processing international flights to their cities,” the official declared, referring to local governments that, he said, hinder the application of federal immigration laws.

The measure would put under pressure cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle and Boston, included by the Department of Justice on a list of sanctuary jurisdictions with some of the busiest airports in the country.

Concern in the airline and tourism industry

The possible immigration tightening has caused alarm among airlines, hotels and companies linked to tourism, especially a few days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament for which the arrival of millions of international visitors is expected.

The U.S. The Travel Association confirmed that industry representatives recently met with Mullin, who reiterated that the government is considering removing CBP agents from certain international airports.

The organization warned that such a measure would have “devastating consequences” for the tourism economy and for communities that depend on the spending of foreign visitors. The New York area's three major airports alone handled more than 50 million international passengers last year.

For its part, Airlines for America stated that reducing customs staff at large air terminals would cause severe operational disruptions for airlines, travelers and international supply chains.

Democrats question the proposal

Democratic lawmakers and local officials have criticized the initiative, arguing that sanctuary policies seek to limit abuses by federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and CBP.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also expressed reservations about the idea during a congressional hearing. Although he said he did not know all the details of the proposal, he noted that restricting international flights due to political differences could set a dangerous precedent.

“We should not shut down air travel in a state that does not agree with our policy,” he declared.

The Trump administration had already tried during its first term to withdraw federal funds from sanctuary cities, but several courts blocked those efforts. Until now, it is also unclear what legal support an eventual suspension of immigration and customs operations at key international airports in the country would have.