Travel trade worries after Trump administration reiterates risk to ‘sanctuary metropolis’ airports

The journey trade is on edge after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reiterated his risk to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called sanctuary cities in a transfer that might jeopardize worldwide flights.

The U.S. Travel Assn. mentioned that Mullin confirmed he’s contemplating withdrawing the officers in a gathering the place the commerce group was urgent its considerations about different proposals the Trump administration is contemplating that might hamper journey. The journey affiliation and main airways rapidly condemned the concept, and even Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned it doesn’t make sense to him.

“U.S. Travel believes such a move would have devastating consequences for the travel industry and communities that depend on international visitation,” the trade group mentioned Friday in an announcement.

Details of the assembly have been first reported by the Atlantic.

Duffy mentioned at a congressional listening to this week that he wasn’t acquainted with Mullin’s remarks, and he’d wish to study extra concerning the context and possibly ask Mullin a query about what he meant. But Duffy mentioned it will be a foul concept to start out proscribing journey based mostly on political opinions. After all, he acknowledged, sooner or later Democrats might be in cost and “you will all switch spots at one point — hopefully not too soon, Mr. Chairman.”

“We have people from around the world and around the country that need to be able to fly into all different kinds of places. We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics,” Duffy mentioned.

So it’s not clear how a lot help this concept has inside the administration, although President Trump has beforehand threatened to withhold funding from sanctuary cities.

There isn’t any strict definition for sanctuary insurance policies or sanctuary cities, however the phrases usually consult with jurisdictions that restrict cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And courts have rejected the concept of pulling funding from them up to now.

In Trump’s first time period in workplace, in 2017, courts struck down his effort to chop funding to the cities.

It’s not clear precisely which cities and airports Mullin may goal, however the Justice Department final 12 months published a list of three dozen states, cities and counties that it considers to be sanctuary jurisdictions. They embody California, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego County.

The Airlines for America commerce group was fast to say the concept would harm the financial system and disrupt journey.

“Reducing CBP staffing at major airports would have a devastating effect on the airline and tourism industries, causing a significant operational disruption to carriers, travelers and the flow of international cargo.”

Funk and Yamat write for the Associated Press.