Several weeks ago, I covered how the Trump administration was threatening to pull customs from airports in some cities, thereby restricting international flights to those places. The suggestion was so outlandish that it was hard to take seriously. However, it sounds like this wasn’t a joke, and this is something the administration still working toward. We’re now learning more about what these plans could look like…
In this post:
Mullin wants to pull customs from airports to punish cities
Markwayne Mullin is Trump’s new Homeland Security Secretary, after the abrupt firing of Kristi Noem earlier this year. The former Oklahoma Senator is known for making headlines, but this has to be among the most absurd I’ve seen (along with the time he wanted to fight a union president in the Senate).
In early April 2026, during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Mullin was asked about lack of local law enforcement cooperation in so called “sanctuary cities.” Mullin responded with the following:
“I believe sanctuary cities is not lawful, I don’t think they’re able to do that. So we’re gonna take a hard look at this. This one area we may take a hard look at is that some of these cities have international airports. If they’re sanctuary cities, should they really be processing customs into their cities?”
“Seriously, if they’re sanctuary cities, 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.”
Baier was caught off guard by that comment, so followed that up with the following question:
“So you’re saying that big cities that are sanctuary cities that have a big airport, they might lose their customs?”
Mullin responded as follows:
“Well, I’m saying we’re going to have to start prioritizing things at some point. Right now, remember, the Democrats are wanting to defund Customs and Border patrol. Well who processes those individuals when they walk off the plane? So I’m going to have to be forced to make hard decisions, who’s willing to work with us and partner with us?”
There’s now an update, as The Atlantic is reporting that this wasn’t just a flippant remark he mentioned one time. Instead, it’s something that’s actually being worked on. According to this report, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Mullin convened a small group of airline and travel industry executives at DHS headquarters, where he told them about these plans.
The idea is that we could see major restrictions on airport customs facilities in the coming months, with the changes most likely being implemented in July 2026 and beyond, when the United States is done hosting the World Cup. Again, we’ll see if anything comes of this, but it’s quite something to see this still being discussed weeks later with industry executives.
This is such a laughable threat to even make
Folks in the Trump administration are known for making a lot of threats, though this one definitely ranks up there, if you ask me.
There’s no official definition of what constitutes a “sanctuary city,” and for those not familiar, the term refers to places where local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration does publish a list of places that it considers to be sanctuary cities.
That includes cities like Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, etc. So yeah, make no mistake, the threat here is that they’re thinking of shutting down customs at most of the biggest airports in the country. Maybe Vasu Raja’s El Paso global domination strategy wasn’t so bad after all, it just came before its time…
To state the obvious, this would have absolutely catastrophic implications for airlines. I mean, airlines would basically be left without coastal hubs, perhaps aside from American in Miami. This just strikes me as such an unbelievable waste of time.
Bottom line
The new Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, is threatening to pull customs from the country’s biggest airports, over lack of cooperation from “sanctuary cities.” I totally get that this guy wants to flex however he can, but essentially threatening to ban international flights at the country’s biggest airports doesn’t seem like a winning strategy on any level.
This idea was first floated on Fox News several weeks back, and many wondered how serious this was. As it turns out, it’s completely serious, apparently, to the point that Mullin just met with airline industry executives last week to discuss the plans.
As far as I’m concerned, they should do it — don’t just talk the talk, but do it. The big question is whether United CEO Scott Kirby will still be singing Trump’s praises if the carrier’s entire international network is just centered around Houston. 😉
What do you make of Mullin threatening to shut down international service at the country’s biggest airports?
And they wonder why the FIFA World Cup is having trouble with selling tickets in the USA? Trump lobbies to get a Noble Peace Prize. FIFA gives him a bogus one. Trump gets to have World Cup in the USA. He says anyone coming to it can get into the USA on a special visa. But he is going to have tons of ICE agents everywhere. (They pick up Anyone brown.) And Now they are...
And they wonder why the FIFA World Cup is having trouble with selling tickets in the USA? Trump lobbies to get a Noble Peace Prize. FIFA gives him a bogus one. Trump gets to have World Cup in the USA. He says anyone coming to it can get into the USA on a special visa. But he is going to have tons of ICE agents everywhere. (They pick up Anyone brown.) And Now they are going to potentially Shut Down LAX? He is Nuts! And for how long? The Olympics are coming up in a few years too!
Ben just another idiot vindictive attack by a totally incompetent administration. Nothing should be considered far fetched or outlandish since they all do not have any brains to think things out. Have a problem getting controllers just reduce the number we say we need. Wow that really solves the problem???
Good grief Ben this blog has taken a turn for the worse. Opening the spigot of stupid speak/trolls with postings like this becoming more frequent is really unbecoming.
Stick to the reviews and leave the politics to other blogs.
Ben can do as he damn well pleases
But it is amusing to see these MAGA mouth breathers to crawl out of their holes with their very thing disguised racist tropes (and then scurry back underground quickly)
Lest we forget, we are a nation of immigrants: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” -- 1883 sonnet "The New Colossus" by American poet Emma Lazarus found at the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor.
So let me get this straight. Whiny woke Karens and Kens (smug, entitled white Democrats) are "traumatized" by the federal government wanting immigration LAWS to be enforced. But they have zero concerns about the trauma caused to the victims of criminal illegals who rape, rob, and murder American citizens? The political left is literally insane. No wonder Spencer Pratt is going to win in Los Angeles. Anyone with even a few brain cells left should...
So let me get this straight. Whiny woke Karens and Kens (smug, entitled white Democrats) are "traumatized" by the federal government wanting immigration LAWS to be enforced. But they have zero concerns about the trauma caused to the victims of criminal illegals who rape, rob, and murder American citizens? The political left is literally insane. No wonder Spencer Pratt is going to win in Los Angeles. Anyone with even a few brain cells left should recognize that The Walking Dead TV series was just foreshadowing the apocalypse taking place in Democrat-run cities and states: crime, filth, chaos, mental illness, depravity.
I'm curious. What do you think happens when an illegal immigrant who committed a crime here is deported? Do you think they get tried and imprisoned in their home country? For a crime committed here? That doesn't happen. They walk free. So why are you wanting rapists and murderers who committed crimes here to not be punished for it?
Your argument only makes sense if they are actually prosecuted. But they aren't. Democrat states and cities run by George Soros-supported Mayors and district attorneys (Chicago, LA, NYC, DC, Philly, Seattle) give criminal illegals a free pass. It's the worst of all worlds. Democrats let the criminals invade our country, then give them free / subsidized food and rent, then let them walk free when they commit vile acts against American citizens. Enough is enough....
Your argument only makes sense if they are actually prosecuted. But they aren't. Democrat states and cities run by George Soros-supported Mayors and district attorneys (Chicago, LA, NYC, DC, Philly, Seattle) give criminal illegals a free pass. It's the worst of all worlds. Democrats let the criminals invade our country, then give them free / subsidized food and rent, then let them walk free when they commit vile acts against American citizens. Enough is enough. Kick them out and never let them back in. Ever.
Violent criminals are prosecuted regardless of their immigration status numbnuts. Your FOX bubble is not reality. Your mango messiah is the one making sure they never see justice. Maybe, instead of bitching from your basement, go to these cities and see for yourself. It's normal people living normal lives, not Mad Max.
American citizens commit crimes at a higher rate than the people you are lamenting against.
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/JU/JU01/20250122/117827/HHRG-119-JU01-20250122-SD004.pdf
Also, obstructing legitimate travel only punishes innocent people.
There is no logic to your statements.
Nice try, cupcake. Even you don't believe that gaslighting nonsense. I encourage you to take a trip to any large American city run by the Dems and tell me what you see. It ain't the Amish running wild.
Run away and piss off, low information MAGA incel
Make it , reality please. Allow me to school you on your Amish comment. While they are rarely political, they have protested against the deportations and perceived occupation of this notion of ice agents. You like many underestimate them.
Two separate issues. Restricting Customs and Immigration processing hurts everyone. You probably have a 100 products in your home that were processed by cargo that were imported to a blue state. Most intl passengers have valid reasons to travel. There is a reason why British Airways does not fly to Oklahoma. There is a reason United/American/Delta do not fly Billings to London direct.
Jailing illegals who have committed crimes and deporting them has nothing...
Two separate issues. Restricting Customs and Immigration processing hurts everyone. You probably have a 100 products in your home that were processed by cargo that were imported to a blue state. Most intl passengers have valid reasons to travel. There is a reason why British Airways does not fly to Oklahoma. There is a reason United/American/Delta do not fly Billings to London direct.
Jailing illegals who have committed crimes and deporting them has nothing to do with legitimate intl travel.
Retired U.S. Customs Agent here.
The right’s issue with so-called “sanctuary cities” is full BS. Even in those cities, they will mostly work with the feds when it comes to the actual criminals. What local police don’t want is a situation where crime is happening and the victims/witnesses of the crimes are afraid of working with them to do their jobs because of fears that once they interact with the local police they could be rounded up too. Trump has...
The right’s issue with so-called “sanctuary cities” is full BS. Even in those cities, they will mostly work with the feds when it comes to the actual criminals. What local police don’t want is a situation where crime is happening and the victims/witnesses of the crimes are afraid of working with them to do their jobs because of fears that once they interact with the local police they could be rounded up too. Trump has his whole ICE army to deal with this, it’s literally not local police’s job to do their work for them.
Actually, it's politically and factually incorrect to assume that every Southern or white-dominated city is Republican controlled. For example, even though Dallas is in the middle of a klan land, its democratically elected mayor is a black democrat, who does not cooperate with ICE. That's why city of Dallas is having issues with Texas State attorney general. Another issue is that Democrats in Congress are refusing to fund CBP that operate entey inspections at the...
Actually, it's politically and factually incorrect to assume that every Southern or white-dominated city is Republican controlled. For example, even though Dallas is in the middle of a klan land, its democratically elected mayor is a black democrat, who does not cooperate with ICE. That's why city of Dallas is having issues with Texas State attorney general. Another issue is that Democrats in Congress are refusing to fund CBP that operate entey inspections at the airports. Once the funding lapses, no more inbound international flights to anywhere in the US.
Actually, Eric Johnson, the mayor you are referencing switched parties from Democrat to Republican when Biden was in office, so you're not exactly correct in your statements above. Also, the city removed the six rainbow crosswalks on one public street barely 3 blocks long at the behest of the Republican governor's (wanna be like 47) threats to withhold state funds for roads and infrastructure. Leadership at it's worse. As far as CBP funding, IMO, they...
Actually, Eric Johnson, the mayor you are referencing switched parties from Democrat to Republican when Biden was in office, so you're not exactly correct in your statements above. Also, the city removed the six rainbow crosswalks on one public street barely 3 blocks long at the behest of the Republican governor's (wanna be like 47) threats to withhold state funds for roads and infrastructure. Leadership at it's worse. As far as CBP funding, IMO, they need to breakup DHS, too much concentration leaves too much power in one's hands. Segregate these out from under DPS so they can be managed and held more readily accountable.
DHS was a boondoggle from the start. People on both sides of the aisle that weren’t cowtowed into sacrificing civil liberties for security “theater” knew that from the get. I fully agree that DHS should be broken up and we should go back to something like INS for immigration control and the other parts can go back to already existing executive branch agencies.
DFW in particular also presents a very real issue with this inane...
DHS was a boondoggle from the start. People on both sides of the aisle that weren’t cowtowed into sacrificing civil liberties for security “theater” knew that from the get. I fully agree that DHS should be broken up and we should go back to something like INS for immigration control and the other parts can go back to already existing executive branch agencies.
DFW in particular also presents a very real issue with this inane plan. Even if Dallas were a city where the local police decided cooperating with the feds or giving the impression that they were made it harder to do their job (that’s what we are talking about when we talk about “sanctuary cities” these cities just don’t want victims or potentially cooperating witnesses of crimes in their community to be afraid of assisting local law enforcement trying to do their jobs), DFW is co-owned by the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth (which is not a “sanctuary city” and probably won’t ever be) and located in neither. DFW might be the most stark example of this, but plenty of other major US international airports (it’s literally in the name of Sea-Tac too) are not necessarily fully located under any one jurisdiction.
Maybe Mullins and the bloated DHS should do their own jobs and let local law enforcement decide what works best for them.
So the guy with two first names is as crazy as the guy who wears orange makeup. ‘Ole Markwayne will soon dread the day he left his cush Senate job. What a complete whack-job!
Did we really expect anything else from someone named "Markwayne"? The "Mullin" is just icing on the cake.
Yes! Great! President Trump is doing the right thing. Lawlessness at crime infested democrats so called sanctuary cities are destroying people's quality of life. Do you really feel safe walking around Oakland? Sanctuary cities are becoming hellholes. Asian cities like Tokyo, Taipei and Seoul will never allow this type of lawlessness occur! Common sense!
How do you think cargo gets to the flyover states?
Don’t let reason confuse your bigotry.
Sorry, Steve. The old, tired "bigotry" thing carries no weight anymore. It's a tired cliche which tells me you can't dispute the substance of the argument. It's not illegal to be stupid, Steve, but it is annoying to those of us who understand that liberalism is a mental illness.
Sorry, Make It Make Sense... calling out bigots like you will never get old.
Darlene ... Exactly .
You make great comedy. Signed up the presidential grifter slush fund for criminals yet? It will make you proud.
In Asian countries like Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, an administration like Trump's would have already been dissolved or impeached.
I can't believe we are even having this conversation.
Commercial aviation is a private sector business (at least since 1979). Airlines are not obligated to provide anything. (In contrast, federal employees are obligated for the rest of the FY to use certain airlines for certain routes, if there are seats. And USPS contracts can be fulfilled on cargo flights, just like back in the 1920s.)
Therefore, the airline industry ultimately has the upper hand on dictating their terms to the federal government. Yes, the...
Commercial aviation is a private sector business (at least since 1979). Airlines are not obligated to provide anything. (In contrast, federal employees are obligated for the rest of the FY to use certain airlines for certain routes, if there are seats. And USPS contracts can be fulfilled on cargo flights, just like back in the 1920s.)
Therefore, the airline industry ultimately has the upper hand on dictating their terms to the federal government. Yes, the employers can call a de facto strike. Suspend all flights and furlough the entire companies until the government (Mullin) complies. Or just suspends all flights (domestic included) to all airports now without USCBP. No flying, no fuel, no tax, no FAA.
No other industries have such concentrated powers (just a few players) for so much of the economy.
Sanctuary cities should be illegal!
If you feel so strongly, then, advocate for changes, run for political office, all using the peaceful, democratic process, like an adult, citizen.
However, as far as your 'idea' goes, I'd argue that's a bad policy (punishing people in cities and states, who prefer to not do the federal governments' job for them); instead, we should demand bi-partisan immigrant reform through actual formal Congressional legislation (that's the correct process; not what's being suggested here,...
If you feel so strongly, then, advocate for changes, run for political office, all using the peaceful, democratic process, like an adult, citizen.
However, as far as your 'idea' goes, I'd argue that's a bad policy (punishing people in cities and states, who prefer to not do the federal governments' job for them); instead, we should demand bi-partisan immigrant reform through actual formal Congressional legislation (that's the correct process; not what's being suggested here, using economic or physical threats or intimidation).
Such reforms really should include properly funding immigration courts with impartial judges, and other necessary infrastructure for efficiently processing citizenship applications, (and, fine, more 'border security').
All said, I suspect you're not actually interested in solving this any of this, are you? Like, you just wanna feel the catharsis of hating/fearing 'the stranger,' no? *sigh*
Dee your clear lack of education (probably in a red state) should also be illegal
Reposting Eric Feigl-Ding is an interesting choice.
All it will take is customs to be shut down in one sanctuary city for starter
Bet the others will fall in line quickly….
I just wonder if one large sanctuary city should be targeted or one new Radom sanctuary city any size with customs should targeted every subsequent week. With one week notice so the airlines can be proactive rebooking passengers.
Better still, boycott the USA and citizens and residents will be stranded overseas. Cargo will be halted. Nothing says welcome to the word cup more than the lunatics the white house who clearly have no clue. But there shall be a ballroom, which hopefully will be his mausoleum
Sanctuary cities/states should consider cutting federal funding if the federal gov't cuts their services.
Short of secession, you can't. States don't remit money to the feds. Employers do.
U.S. Arrivals, Non-U.S. visitors, January-December 2025: 6.05 million, down 6.2% year-on-year.
U.S. Arrivals, Non-U.S. visitors, January-April 2026: less than 2 million, down a further 2% on 2025 figures. (Source: indoundtravel.org)
It might be expected that the Football World Cup will boost numbers, but will those numbers be offset by the potential lack of airline seats for other tourists? Nobody knows the answer to that question.
All in all, the proposal under discussion undoubtedly indicates...
U.S. Arrivals, Non-U.S. visitors, January-December 2025: 6.05 million, down 6.2% year-on-year.
U.S. Arrivals, Non-U.S. visitors, January-April 2026: less than 2 million, down a further 2% on 2025 figures. (Source: indoundtravel.org)
It might be expected that the Football World Cup will boost numbers, but will those numbers be offset by the potential lack of airline seats for other tourists? Nobody knows the answer to that question.
All in all, the proposal under discussion undoubtedly indicates an imbecilic approach on the part of one of the lunatics in the current administration.
It's also the first time that tickets are not sold out for the world cup, and many hotels are not even full.
Even Qatar and Russia had a better image at this point... Embarrassing for the USA.
The thing is that Qatar and Russia are brutal dictatorship but for most part they operate under relatively clean rules. If you behave and don't threaten the dictator, you're left alone. Sucks for locals but, moral concerns aside, quite alright for tourists.
US on the other hand leaves you at mercy of random douchebags with the IQ of 45, who will invade your privacy, throw you in a concentration camp or outright shoot you with...
The thing is that Qatar and Russia are brutal dictatorship but for most part they operate under relatively clean rules. If you behave and don't threaten the dictator, you're left alone. Sucks for locals but, moral concerns aside, quite alright for tourists.
US on the other hand leaves you at mercy of random douchebags with the IQ of 45, who will invade your privacy, throw you in a concentration camp or outright shoot you with no reason at all, just because they happen to feel like it on the day.
No one sane will voluntarily travel to the US at this time.
Maybe you'd be happier living in Qatar or Russia...
Oh please do this. The economic fall out will ensure these buffoons never get on a home association board let alone any position in the federal government. Even if his cult like followers still think they love him the big money he is going to piss off will push out enough propaganda to change their minds pretty quick.
I was just thinking about this this morning. There's not much better way to turn the midterms into a blue tsunami than by screwing over mostly affluent, older, consistent voters.
One wakes up on the right side of the pond to be presented with the subject article. It is not the first of April, apparently Ben, has not lost his marbles and others are reporting upon this story too. What is one to think?
One’s first thought is that the lunatics have definitely taken over the asylum!
Correction!
One’s only thought is that the lunatics have very definitely taken over the asylum!
Before tarring all Americans with the same brush, look at the NY Times collection of reliable polls, the most recent of which (from American Research Group) shows Trump's approval rating at 31%, with disapproval of 64%. Compare Starmer's numbers of about 20% and 70%. The leader of the country is not always the leader of public opinion. It takes a while to remove a mistake from office.
Do you think it is a coincidence that ABC got rid of 538 (A web page that aggregated all the major polls of presidential job performance and election polling) right as these clowns got into power? I personally don't
Ross, one cannot deny that there no argument against your statement. Both UK and U.S. government officials are as mad as a bunch of frogs. Only the EU leads the world for having the most failed national politicians amongst its ranks.
@Aero - the whataboutism here wild. Whilst the UK has had its share of "frogs," they still haven't elected anyone yet who is willing to destroy their own country, drag the rest of the World into economic chaos, and commit the kind of fraud and grift that Trump and his voters have unleashed. Trump is still the American president, whether the polls show he is unpopular or not...
@Ross, the very fact that the USA maintains an electoral system which has made it possible for this sort of people to get into power, the first time around even without managing to win the popular vote is reason enough for tarring Americans with the same brush- not as individuals, but certainly when talking about the US society/polity as a whole. Ditto for Guantanamo, not accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC etc- the current administration...
@Ross, the very fact that the USA maintains an electoral system which has made it possible for this sort of people to get into power, the first time around even without managing to win the popular vote is reason enough for tarring Americans with the same brush- not as individuals, but certainly when talking about the US society/polity as a whole. Ditto for Guantanamo, not accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC etc- the current administration isn't responsible for any of that.
This AI response is so stupid.
Yes, because so many people will want to fly into 3rd rate cities that do not even have immigration processing facilities. You know where there is also no facilities like that? The whole state of Oklahoma, no sorry that your state doesn't stand out as a tourist location.
I am not American but have heard that Oklahoma has the finest tornado watching in the entire US and people who chase storms flock to the state in the summer. Perhaps there are not as many storm chasers as northern light seekers, but nonetheless Oklahoma is an exciting tourist destination for some.
Dump and Duffy keep looking for new threats to try to make people fall in line with fascism. Even if it never happens, we should show the regime collaborators no leniency when they all stand trial.
Yeah! Another way to crash the global economy. Just what we need right now.
Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face...
It can't happen soon enough. Absolutely love this. FAFO to all the Apocalypse Now Democrat cities that refuse to abide by U.S. immigration law. The very same Democrats who want to release criminal illegal aliens into our neighborhoods who have committed murder, armed robbery, trafficked women and children, act as drug dealers, pedophiles, rapists and carjackers. Only a lunatic would argue that sanctuary cities should be rewarded for putting illegals first and American citizens LAST.
It can't happen soon enough. Absolutely love this. FAFO to all the Apocalypse Now Democrat cities that refuse to abide by U.S. immigration law. The very same Democrats who want to release criminal illegal aliens into our neighborhoods who have committed murder, armed robbery, trafficked women and children, act as drug dealers, pedophiles, rapists and carjackers. Only a lunatic would argue that sanctuary cities should be rewarded for putting illegals first and American citizens LAST.
Please return to your regularly scheduled FoxNews programming.
Seriously. What a potpourri of Fox News bullshit.
Red states are the takers, Blue states are the makers
I am forced to wonder how many of the airports serving so-called sanctuary cities are in their city limits, or in a neighbouring 'sanctuary' jurisdiction, and how many are in a place with no such policies. None of the airports serving Washington are in the District, for a start. Arlington (Virginia)?
All hail the Mango Mussolini.
He should be careful. It was a toxic combination of unpopular immigration tactics and long lines in airports that cost the last Secretary her job . . . er, I mean got here her 'promotion'. This is a combination of those two missteps. If GE disappears in a sanctuary-city airport near you, it will be the first nail in the coffin.
They are so stupid in this government it defies education. AI improves our lives over those fools. Customs and airports have nothing to do with sanctuary or not, all are federal. By default those fools should be fired for not knowing that.
I hope they do it.. It will be the final nail in the coffin for the mid term elections. It would create such Chaos, massive layoffs, and even the "big business" buddies, like airlines, oil companies, hotel chains etc would push back. Not to mention strangling the national and global economy.... The US would essentially be cut off from most of the world, without most of the international airline connections.... PS- Don't forget the cargo...
I hope they do it.. It will be the final nail in the coffin for the mid term elections. It would create such Chaos, massive layoffs, and even the "big business" buddies, like airlines, oil companies, hotel chains etc would push back. Not to mention strangling the national and global economy.... The US would essentially be cut off from most of the world, without most of the international airline connections.... PS- Don't forget the cargo implications.....
Go ahead and do it please.
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." — Napoleon
Well, how about we continue operating these airports without CBP and just let everyone in with no controls then?
Mad Max: “That… that’s bait.”
Nice strawman, Capo. There’s a fine-line between anarchy and sensible immigration controls at airports. No one wants chaos. No one should want fascism, either.
On the plus side, if enacted, this could finally make American profitable. DFW could become an international superhub!
It already is.
A clear case of abuse of power again, as this only affects 'Democrat' cities. A sadistic kakistocracy at work.
I'm sure that no one outside of the US actually will be affected, as no one in their right mind should want to visit a violent and dystopian place like the USA.
The irony is that most of those so-called ‘blue’ cities are doing quite well, economically, socially, generally. All are welcome. Love who you wanna love. You do you.
For instance, NYC is better than ever; but, if all you only watch right-wing propaganda, you’d think it’s circa 1975; like, Escape from New York with Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken. Psh.
Beware: There is Shakira law, though… those taxes on billionaires second homes don’t lie!
You've got to think bigger, friend
We've seen deposed coalitions imprisoned in several recovered democracies recently
We've done a reconstruction before
We've dealt with Nazi seditionists before
We can fundamentally restructure our broken government, many are disqualified by the fourteenth amendment (including scotus)
And then we can enforce the laws as they were written, with all appropriate consequences
Justice Jackson and the Nuremberg prosecutors did
"Don't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling..." (Inception, 2010).
Seems like both Justice Jacksons, Robert and Ketanji, were/are onto something.
I like where your head is at digital_notmad. We can overcome this. All of it.
Cutting off international travel to the largest economic centers of your country is not going to only hurt those cities
Cool. When they pull the money for Customs, then just send all the federal employees home. No more customs, no more border patrol, no more ICE.
That doesn't stop the planes from coming and unloading passengers. So with no federal immigration/customs/ICE staff, you simply let in anyone who steps off a plane, with no screening whatsoever. Brilliant! Everybody's happy!
You dummy. There would be no international flights coming to those airports. The flights would not arrive without CBP there..... How dumb can you be?
Just like the open free for all borders under Joe and COmma-La
European and Asian and African, countries, and those elsewhere in the Americas welcome travel and travellers. Sure, there are visa requirements… many people earn their living because of travel. Sure, public facing folks like air crew, hotel staff, but also the airline mechanics, airplane part workers, baggage makers, hotel room amenity workers, the cooks and servers in restaurants…. The mind boggles.
I asked AI to analyse both Bens article and the comments and this is the result, pretty much what I was thinking;
The Great De-Risking:
Why the World is Quietly Hedging Against the U.S.
For decades, the world ran on a simple script: rely on the U.S. dollar, trust U.S. legal frameworks, and align with U.S. foreign policy.
Not anymore.
A quiet, structural shift is happening across the globe. From Europe...
I asked AI to analyse both Bens article and the comments and this is the result, pretty much what I was thinking;
The Great De-Risking:
Why the World is Quietly Hedging Against the U.S.
For decades, the world ran on a simple script: rely on the U.S. dollar, trust U.S. legal frameworks, and align with U.S. foreign policy.
Not anymore.
A quiet, structural shift is happening across the globe. From Europe to Asia, countries are systematically cutting their exposure to U.S. liability. It is not an overnight revolution, but a calculated, steady de-risking.
Here is how the world is changing the rules:
Ditching the Dollar: Central banks are quietly swapping U.S. reserves for gold and local currencies to shield themselves from sudden "dollar shocks."
Geopolitical Hedging: After years of unpredictable policy shifts and sanctions, even close allies are building legal walls to protect their economies from Washington's mood swings.
Regulatory Armor: Dictating the rules of the future, frameworks like the EU AI Act are explicitly designed to limit the unchecked dominance—and legal immunity—of U.S. tech giants.
The Bottom Line: The world isn't waiting for American stability to return. They are building a new global order that limits their exposure to U.S. risk.
Mhm, America’s self-inflicted wounds from Trump 1.0 and especially 2.0 makes Brexit, Hong Kong, the Falklands, and the 1956 Suez Crisis look like child's play… oh, and speaking of that… Trump really should not be able to get away with the Epstein stuff… just sayin’… (@Aero, back me up on the British stuff.)
Long live Logan's Run!
Customs is a Federal function. So are they saying that the federal government isn’t paying attention to immigration at these airports now and letting undocumented people in through airports? Doesn’t that make the Trump administration the problem?
His wife illegally over-stayed her visa. Elon Musk illegally over-stayed his visa.
Ben and his readers are concerned about passengers. But there should at least be a mention of air freight, which has to go through customs also. Shipments to New York and Boston now have to be routed through Miami? How inflationary would that be?
Yeah this is just another seriously stupid idea from the Administration I can't believe it even got publicly released. I had to check to make sure today was not April 1st. This will be such a boon to our economy. Genius. It'll never happen.
Pretty solid idea, too bad this admin will never actually do it.
With all due respect, I sincerely hope you are joking. Please be so kind as think systems or supply chain impacts through.
Those fuel prices are not raising themselves.
i hate to say it, but a whole lotta these guys are gonna need reeducation through hard labor
That was a bit ambiguous. Who are you referring to, exactly?
How about we simply hold accountable those who abuse power? Like, if the Secretary actually does this, it would be way beyond the scope of his authority and would defy the actual mission of his department. He can resign, or be impeached, removed, too.
(Or, were you just whining about those of us who oppose these bad policies… *sigh*)
Fucking do it. See what happens. These assholes think they have all the power. They don’t. We do.
Good idea .
Un-alert… you forgot the ‘/s’
There would of course me many more than only Miami. To be clear, I am not taking a side here, only stating facts.
Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Atlanta and I am sure other mega hubs would all be business as usual. Smaller hubs like Phoenix would be too.
So, when we have a Democrat in the White House again and they yank customs from ATL, DFW, IAH, CLT, MIA, SMF and MEM you good?
SMF? Please don’t lump us in with the Republican crazies lol.
I've always thought of SMF as south Orange County.
I KID! I KID! :)
What other mega hubs? KIAD, KDFW, KIAH, KDTW, KMIA and KATL are the only international megahubs not in a sanctuary city or state. Do you honestly think routing all traffic to the Northeast via one airport will go well? What about all West Coast traffic through DFW/IAH? Do you understand that major airport expansions take billions of dollars and years to complete?
Airbus better start cranking out A380s again if this happens. Boeing should get...
What other mega hubs? KIAD, KDFW, KIAH, KDTW, KMIA and KATL are the only international megahubs not in a sanctuary city or state. Do you honestly think routing all traffic to the Northeast via one airport will go well? What about all West Coast traffic through DFW/IAH? Do you understand that major airport expansions take billions of dollars and years to complete?
Airbus better start cranking out A380s again if this happens. Boeing should get the 747-8i line up and running ASAP too. I bet they can offload their "terrible 30s" 777xs as domestic aircraft pretty fast. Canada will love this, I don't think this administration understands what pre-clearance is or likely even knows it exists. YVR is going to become the only gateway to the West Coast!
It's funny, because I bet in order to accommodate more profitable premium traffic to desirable destinations, airlines would cut a lot of less profitable routes connecting the Southern hubs to smaller cities in the South in order to serve the "sanctuary" cities that had direct international travel cut off, and as a result would directly economically harm the deepest reddest parts of the south.
This sure sounds like government weaponization against only certain cities / residents.
I'm traumatized just thinking about it.
How do I get my hands on some of that $1.8B anti-weaponization fund money to ease my pain and suffering?
Has the administration looked into the number of international passengers affected per day,if this is done? What does the administration gain by doing this? Makes absolutely no sense.
Makes perfect sense , when I think about it .
You can't use commas properly, so your opinion is invalid.
What they gain, are discussions like this?
When Trump was a businessman(?), besides claiming bankruptcy six times, his favorite tactic was to always bully, threaten and sue his opponents. Since becoming President, he continues to do it to TV stations, newspapers, universities and others. And it works, too.
And that's how United remembered that they have a hub in Denver and they are allowed to fly internationally out of Denver.
This must be what the + stands for in TSA Gold+
When Trump listed the qualifications to be in his administration, did he list "must be able to shoot yourself in the foot"?
Once again, conservatives once deeply concerned about states' rights and federal overreach are cheering this on. Couldn't imagine betraying every principle you espoused to hold for a New York billionaire that treats you like a mark.
International visitors have no desire to visit flyover states. The wins keep coming.
I actually love this idea, but instead of shutting down customs entirely… reduce the customs budgets at sanctuary cities drastically, forcing cuts in these cities while being a boom to cities and state governments that actually follow the and respect American culture, laws, and traditions of our nation. This is the first view we wish foreigners visiting here to get of our great nation and the USA.
Intentionally creating dysfunctional, understaffed border crossings at any American city/airport doesn't project 'greatness' to foreign visitors. Crippling our own national infrastructure to punish political opponents is a dangerous precedent.
Ask yourself why British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM and Air France do not have non-stop from Europe to Des Moines, Iowa
Go ahead, send a sign to the rest of the world that no one is welcome. Just before the World Cup. Just shows how ignorant you and 80 million Americans are. It would affect the entire country not just specific cities. It will also cost airlines and other businesses millions.
Meanwhile when is he going to end the war in Ukraine ?? He promised 24 hrs and has completely forgotten about it.
The...
Go ahead, send a sign to the rest of the world that no one is welcome. Just before the World Cup. Just shows how ignorant you and 80 million Americans are. It would affect the entire country not just specific cities. It will also cost airlines and other businesses millions.
Meanwhile when is he going to end the war in Ukraine ?? He promised 24 hrs and has completely forgotten about it.
The straits of Hormuz are closed … because of the USA. But that dictator can demolish the white house and build his ballroom.
They thought Reagan and Bush were terrible presidents. Mango Mussolini is the stupidest leader in history. He makes Bush look like Lincoln. Those that follow him are also dotards.
Well said, Icarus. Well said.
And those sanctuary cities like those in California should then reduce their payments to the federal government. They can then use those funds to hire staff to fill in.
Where are the epstein files?
The great American culture and tradition of committing genocide on the native population?
Your country is a country of immigrants, built by immigrants and has nothing but immigrants.
ps. just admit it. You don't want foreigners to visit. Because you'll get scum like Melania and Elon who both abused their visa on purpose.
Maintaining a sanctuary city (however one defines it) does not violate federal law, as such municipalities have no responsibility to bring life to whatever federal initiatives, including immigration policies, any given administration deems a priority.
Equally, I see no bar to pulling customs and immigration services to airports in municipalities any given administration finds to be unserious about cooperating with its immigration priorities.
The problem is that all major cities are sanctuary cities and all of the large international airports are in these cities. So basically he's just saying, "I want to shut down all of the large international airports". That won't go well.
You Dems sure are dumb. Ben literally included a link to the list of Sanctuary Cities and you still post something this stupid? 1/3rd of the top 10 largest metro’s in the US - Houston, Dallas, Atlanta - are NOT sanctuary cities and classified as major cities. Go educate yourself and stop being a liberal sheep…
Jake, those cities (Houston and Atlanta, at least) are literally run by Democrats… (and, technically, the Mayor in Dallas was a D, but changed to an R, which was kinda sketchy of him.)
So, perhaps, it is you who is sheep… baaa…
Trump administration following the abuser’s playbook, again: "Look what you made me do..."
Which will adversely affect the World Cup in LA. Bad form after being given the FIFA Peace Prize
What can I say? Sanctuary cities violate federal law. While I don't necissarily agree with this solution, I'm not sure how these cities can argue against it?
Essentially these cities are saying we can violate federal law, but you the federal government can't take your own measures to curtail this.
Easy solution is just to end sanctuary city status..
Yeah, and Neville Chamberlain thought appeasement would bring 'peace for our time' too.
Surrendering a constitutional right under the Tenth Amendment just to stop a lawless threat doesn't buy peace; it just proves that economic hostage-taking works. If cities fold on local autonomy today to save their airports, the administration will just target the next vital piece of infrastructure tomorrow. You don't stop an abuser by capitulating.
A sizable amount (some years the majority) of immigrants who end up being here illegally actually enter the country legally with a visa and overstay. Shutting down these airports’ immigration processing would have zero effect on that
>Sanctuary cities violate federal law
Wrong. Immigration is solely the purview of the Federal government. State governments are not required to cooperate with or enforce it. We litigated this when ObamaCare required states to expand Medicaid coverage. SCOTUS said states could not be forced to do so. This is called "States' Rights" in conservative-speak, guaranteed under the 10th Amendment.
Any first-year law student could tell you this is wrong.
Ironically the Supreme Court precedents blue cities rely on for sanctuary city legality -- known as the anti-commandeering principle, i.e. the federal government commandeer states to carry out federal duties -- was most recently established by Republicans during the Clinton administration when a gun control bill required states to assist with enforcement of federal gun control law and the Supreme Court found that unconstitutional....
Any first-year law student could tell you this is wrong.
Ironically the Supreme Court precedents blue cities rely on for sanctuary city legality -- known as the anti-commandeering principle, i.e. the federal government commandeer states to carry out federal duties -- was most recently established by Republicans during the Clinton administration when a gun control bill required states to assist with enforcement of federal gun control law and the Supreme Court found that unconstitutional. The reasoning is that the federal government is free to carry out its duties but cannot force states to participate.
It is that same anti-commandeering precedent which permits states and cities to decline to participate in enforcement of federal immigration law. You may think sanctuary cities are bad policy but illegal they are not.
max, first year law students are legally not lawyers, and know very little… wait till they’ve graduated with their juris doctorate, passed a state bar exam, been officially sworn-in, practiced for years and years, in this specific area of law… then, rely on them as your expert opinion.
Whoever you asked, if you even actually asked anyone, had no idea what they were talking about, or just simply told you whatever you wanted to hear.
"Sanctuary cities violate federal law'
This is either the statement of an idiot, or someone who parrots before checking.
Legally it does not, has not, and SCOTUS has ruled repeatedly that these rights are entrenched in the 10th.
Be better, for your own sake and those who have the misfortunate of hearing your drivel.
They don’t though. There is no federal law requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with the federal government. Why should local police do ICE’s job for them?
Seems like punishing everyone
Using the economic survival and freedom of movement of millions of innocent travelers as political leverage sure seems like collective punishment under international humanitarian law.
See: The Fourth Geneva Convention (Article 33); The Third Geneva Convention (Article 87); Additional Protocols I and II (1977). Or, ignore all that mumbo-jumbo... and, diagnose me with 'TDS.'
So basically only way you’d be able to fly to PBI from abroad is going to be through Atlanta or Canada? Haha
Completely shut down air traffic right before an election? Republicans fly too, so I really like this idea. Go for it, guys!
Yet another nail in the coffin for the World Cup.
I think you mean “immigration,” not “customs.” Why do so many Americans make this simple mistake?
Well, CBP covers both, no? Considering that both are required for functioning international air arrival processing, the impact would be the same if it were immigration, customs or both.
Why did you make such a simple mistake while being obnoxiously patronizing?
"Why did you make such a simple mistake while being obnoxiously patronizing?"
^ This.
If it’s the Peter I know, I’d say… patronize all you want, brother! Patronize to your heart’s content! Get semantic! Scrutinize that word-choice! Yeah!!