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Several US airports could lose their international status under a proposal from newly appointed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The new DHS chief suggested that the government may withdraw Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from airports located in “sanctuary cities,” which restrict cooperation with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This would impact many of the country’s busiest international hubs, including 
New York JFK Airport (JFK) and 
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and almost a dozen other important international gateways. If implemented, this would effectively strip these airports of their status as international “Ports of Entry,” threatening to grind lucrative long-haul travel to a halt.
New DHS Secretary Issues Customs Warning
In his first major interview since being confirmed as DHS Secretary, Mullin told Fox News that the agency is taking “a hard look” at international airports located in sanctuary cities, suggesting they could have their customs services withdrawn entirely, effectively preventing them from handling international flights. Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that maintain a de facto policy of non-cooperation with ICE and its enforcement efforts, such as refusing to honor detainer or information-sharing requests.
Mullin branded this as unlawful, adding that the administration would have some “hard decisions” to make about airports unwilling to “work with us and partner with us.” The Trump administration has already proactively fought back against non-compliant jurisdictions by canceling federal funding, but taking mass action against airports would be a major escalation. The CBP operates at over 300 ports of entry in the US, which includes over 100 airports, and many of these busy international airports fall within areas or cities considered to hold active non-cooperative ideals against border operations. Mullin said,
“If they’re sanctuary cities, should they really be processing customs into their city? Seriously. If they’re a sanctuary city and they’re receiving international flights—and we’re asking them to partner with us at the airport, but once they walk out of the airport, they’re not going to enforce immigration policy—maybe we need to have a really hard look at that because we need to focus on cities that want to work with us.”
11 Major International Airports Could Be Affected
Several critical international airports would be affected by potential DHS action, including the two busiest international airports in the US, New York JFK International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. JFK owes over half of its traffic to international arrivals and departures, handling over 34 million international passengers in 2025, while LAX is a key West Coast hub for long-haul connectivity across the Pacific.
|
John F. Kennedy (JFK) |
Los Angeles (LAX) |
Newark Liberty (EWR) |
|
Chicago O’Hare (ORD) |
San Francisco (SFO) |
Boston Logan (BOS) |
|
Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) |
Denver (DEN) |
Philadelphia (PHL) |
|
LaGuardia (LGA) |
Chicago Midway (MDW) |
Along with JFK and LAX, other major international gateways that could be impacted include American Airlines’ key 
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) hub, 
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and the critical transpacific connections at 
San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
In August 2025, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) published a list of sanctuary states, counties and cities that it deemed as “having policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.” Major cities on this list include Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and Seattle, while entire states are also listed, including California. Governor of California Gavin Newsom labeled Mullin’s suggestion “a stupid idea,” saying that halting international travel would worsen the country’s economic crisis.
The US’s 10 Busiest Airports For International Flights
They collectively have up to 1,700 daily departures.
Economic Fallout Would Be Unprecedented
US airports are already buckling under the strain of TSA pay disputes, which has led to severe congestion at security checkpoints across the country. Although President Trump has issued an executive order guaranteeing pay for TSA agents, this is only a temporary solution, with the standoff expected to renew closer to a funding deadline in mid-May.
The timing would be particularly damaging ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is being joint-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. International airports are set to play a key role in transporting fans in and out of the US, with approximately six million passengers expected to catch domestic and international flights during the tournament.
