Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration is drawing up plans to stop processing international flights in cities with sanctuary laws, citing protests at an ICE detention facility in New Jersey.
3:04 PM
The Trump administration is considering withdrawing immigration and customs processing services at airports in cities with sanctuary laws, according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Mullin said during an interview on Fox News' "Hannity" on Tuesday that if "radical left Democrats" are not allowing the government to "enforce federal laws...we shouldn't be processing international flights into their cities either." He stated the administration is "drawing up plans" to take the action in response to days of clashes at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
The proposed move targets cities with so-called sanctuary laws, which ban or limit local police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. ICE agents clashed with protesters outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, with agents using batons against demonstrators.
Major airline, hotel and tourism groups have warned against the proposal. Representatives of the largest U.S. airlines and hotel chains said pulling immigration and customs processing at airports would be "devastating" to the industry and travelers.
The timing of the proposal comes two weeks ahead of the FIFA Men's World Cup, which is scheduled to begin with games in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The disruption to international flight processing could affect travel during the tournament.
Industry groups have not yet detailed specific economic projections or operational impacts, but their statements indicate broad concern about the feasibility and consequences of halting processing services at major airports serving sanctuary cities.
New York state moves to limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations as Trump administration's border czar threatens increased federal presence.
President Trump postponed a military strike scheduled for Tuesday following requests from leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates amid ongoing negotiations.
A federal judge in Washington halted sanctions imposed on Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on Palestinian territories, citing First Amendment violations.
A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy for immigrants violates due process rights.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt military operations May 9-11, coinciding with Victory Day commemorations, and exchange 1,000 prisoners each.
President Trump canceled plans to send envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for ceasefire negotiations with Iran, citing wasted time and internal Iranian confusion.