US drawing up plans to halt immigration, customs processing at ‘sanctuary city’ airports

WASHINGTON – Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the Trump administration is drawing up plans to stop processing international travellers and cargo at major US airports in “sanctuary cities” that have declined to cooperate with an immigration crackdown.

Mr Mullin told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity in an interview broadcast on May 26 that he had met White House officials but emphasised no decision had been made whether to proceed.

Last week, Reuters and other media reported that Mr Mullin had privately told US travel executives in May that the department could opt to stop customs and immigrations processing of international travellers.

Mr Mullin cited airports in cities such as Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Seattle and San Francisco as possible locations for such action. REUTERS