Air Travel Update: International Flight Cancellations at Sanctuary City Airports

Proposal from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Markwayne Mullin, the new Secretary of Homeland Security, has put forth a serious proposal to withdraw Customs and Border Protection personnel from airports located in sanctuary cities. This means that international travelers will no longer be able to fly into these airports.

Views on Sanctuary Cities

Mullin has emphasized his belief that sanctuary cities are illegal. Several of these cities have international airports. If they are indeed sanctuary cities, should Customs operations be conducted there? He calls for a serious reconsideration of this issue.

Impact on Major Airports

The airports under scrutiny include JFK (New York), LAX (Los Angeles), O'Hare (Chicago), Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Boston, Portland, and Newark. This would effectively end all international flights at the affected airports.

International Flights and Customs Regulations

Flights that undergo international customs checks at the point of departure are still allowed, but in reality, they are treated as domestic flights. It seems illogical to maintain one-way international flights while halting the pickup of passengers.

A Concerning Reality

I try to approach this issue seriously, but the proposal sounds outrageous. Many airports are not in the same jurisdiction as the sanctuary cities. For instance, San Francisco International Airport is actually located in San Mateo County and not within the City and County of San Francisco.

Consequences for Tourism and the Economy

People from areas like Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange County still fly directly to Los Angeles. Customs is not a 'city service'; it is part of U.S. border control. The checks are not about processing people into a specific city, but into the United States.

Airports as Connection Points

Major airports serve as convenient transit points for travel to red states. People from other parts of the country still need to clear customs at places like LAX and Chicago. There’s nothing here that is a privilege of local government.

Policy Implications

The government may disagree with the concept of sanctuary cities, but these policies often mean local officials limit the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Congress does not have the authority to directly dictate to the states. The federal government can penalize non-cooperation but cannot mandate compliance from the states.

Macroeconomic Issues

This proposal not only complicates travel for legal travelers but also negatively impacts the economy. The Port of Los Angeles supports millions of jobs and handles about 31% of the U.S.'s international container cargo. Goods from Southern California are vital to the national economy.

Concerns About Flight Schedules

What will happen to flight schedules? International flights must arrive at an airport with a Federal Inspection Station. So where will flights to JFK, LAX, and Chicago O’Hare go? They are sure to face greater challenges with soaring fuel prices.

Conclusion: An Unfeasible Proposal

I wouldn’t describe myself as left-leaning, but it’s clear that this is not a smart proposal even by the standards and priorities of the DHS Secretary. It’s likely that Kristi Noem's departure from DHS doesn't mean a more serious policy will emerge.