DHS Threatens to Halt International Flights at Newark Airport in Sanctuary City Showdown
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warns the Trump administration could stop processing international arrivals at Newark Liberty International Airport, escalating a bitter feud over immigration enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions.
A Stunning Escalation
In a move that could upend air travel across the busiest metropolitan region in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced on May 28 that the Trump administration may soon stop processing international travelers and cargo at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The justification? The administration needs to redirect Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel from Newark to protect federal officials at Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE detention facility in Newark that has been the site of escalating protests.
“If they’re not there processing international flights, then those individuals when airlines land can’t — well, they won’t be permitted into the United States,” Mullin told Fox & Friends.
The Spark: Delaney Hall Protests
The threat comes amid a week of mounting tensions outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center operated by GEO Group under a federal contract. Detainees launched a hunger strike on May 22 over food shortages and inadequate medical care. Protests have swelled outside the facility for over a year, driven by persistent allegations of detainee mistreatment.
Things boiled over on May 25 when Senator Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, was pepper-sprayed by federal officers during a visit to the detention center. The incident drew national attention and deepened the rift between state Democrats and the federal government.
New Jersey officials have long sought to close Delaney Hall, but the federal government has maintained its contract with GEO Group.
Sanctuary Cities in the Crosshairs
Mullin’s Newark threat is part of a broader strategy. Earlier in May, he revealed the administration is “drawing up plans” to halt international flight processing at airports in sanctuary cities nationwide — jurisdictions where local governments limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
“In these sanctuary cities where the local, radical left Democrats aren’t allowing us to do our jobs and enforce federal laws, then we shouldn’t be processing international flights into their cities either,” Mullin said.
The Justice Department has published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions that includes cities with some of the nation’s busiest international airports: New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (O’Hare), San Francisco (SFO), and Boston (Logan).
What’s at Stake
If the administration follows through, the consequences would be severe and far-reaching.
Newark Liberty is one of the busiest airports in the country, serving the New York metropolitan area — the most populous region in the United States. It functions as a critical connecting hub for travelers heading to destinations across the country. Halting international processing there would strand passengers, disrupt cargo supply chains, and send shockwaves through the airline industry.
Airlines and business groups have already warned of chaos. Major carriers depend on Newark for transatlantic and international routes. Cargo operations — including time-sensitive shipments — rely on CBP clearing goods efficiently. Removing that capacity would create bottlenecks that ripple far beyond New Jersey.
The timing is particularly sensitive. The FIFA World Cup kicks off at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in just weeks, with the final scheduled for July 19. Summer is also peak tourism season for New York City. Disrupting international arrivals now would hit the regional economy when it’s most exposed.
Legal and Practical Uncertainty
It remains unclear how DHS would actually implement such a move. Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia are operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — a bi-state agency authorized by the federal government. Whether DHS can unilaterally pull CBP staffing from a federally authorized airport without congressional involvement is an open legal question.
Mullin has not specified a timeline, nor has he detailed which airports beyond Newark might be targeted. DHS has referred inquiries to his prior comments, saying only that plans are being drafted.
The Bigger Picture
This confrontation is the latest chapter in the Trump administration’s aggressive posture toward sanctuary cities since the president’s second term began. An executive order signed on his first day back in office directed the Attorney General and DHS to ensure sanctuary jurisdictions “do not receive access to Federal funds.”
Using airport operations as leverage, however, represents a significant escalation — one that transforms an immigration policy dispute into a potential crisis for the nation’s transportation infrastructure and economy.
Whether this is a genuine operational plan or a negotiating tactic remains to be seen. For the millions of travelers, businesses, and workers who depend on Newark and airports like it, the distinction may not matter much.