- The Department of Homeland Security raised the possibility of stopping customs processing at airports in so-called sanctuary cities.
- Irish flights to such as Minneapolis and Pittsburgh unaffected as passengers processed pre-flight
- Secretary Markwayne Mullin made the remarks on 07 April 2026 regarding non-cooperating cities.
- Affected airports include those in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles.
- The measure targets cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
- No decision has been reached on removing Customs and Border Protection officers.
The US Department of Homeland Security has raised the possibility that customs officials could stop processing international travellers at major airports in sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with the Trump administration immigration policies.
The move will not affect lfights from Ireland as US CBP is carried out in Dublin and Shannon.
Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed the department considers limiting or removing Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles. The statement came during public remarks on 07 April 2026 as discussions continued over funding for the department.
Markwayne Mullin questioned whether sanctuary cities that receive international flights should continue to process customs when local authorities limit cooperation on immigration enforcement after travellers leave the airport. The secretary indicated the department focuses resources on jurisdictions that partner with federal authorities. No final decision has been taken on the measure which forms part of broader reviews of sanctuary policies.
The proposal has drawn responses from officials in affected states and cities. The Department of Homeland Security continues internal deliberations on the option. International flight operations at the named airports proceed under current arrangements while the review advances.
Markwayne Mullin shared “If they are a sanctuary city and they are receiving international flights and we are asking them to partner with us at the airport but once they walk out of the airport they are not going to enforce immigration policy maybe we need to have a really hard look at that.”
