- Markwayne Mullin is threatening to pull federal customs officers from airports in so-called 'sanctuary cities,' which could halt international travel through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed skepticism about the likelihood of Mullin's proposal moving forward.
- Bass mentioned that the upcoming World Cup makes Mullin's plan unrealistic, stating, if you were to pull custom agents and people could not come into the country that would disrupt the games.
Markwayne Mullin, in an interview, expressed his frustration over sanctuary cities that limit federal immigration enforcement, threatening to halt processing international flights at airports in cities such as San Francisco and Chicago.12
He remarked, “If they’re going to not allow us to go out and arrest the ‘worst of the worst’… then why are we processing international flights into the airport there?” This proposed action comes amid ongoing protests against ICE's operations, which Mullin has linked to his decision.
“Sanctuary policies do not prevent ICE operations but rather limit some collaborations between local officials and the federal immigration enforcement agency,” explained experts.
Meanwhile, Karen Bass has raised concerns about the implications of Mullin's threats, particularly with the global spotlight on the upcoming World Cup. She stated, “I doubt seriously that he would follow through with that,”4
This situation reflects escalating tensions over immigration policies and their impact on the travel industry as communities that thrive on international visitation face uncertain futures due to proposed federal actions.
“Markwayne Mullin's proposal to withdraw customs officers from LAX and other sanctuary city airports may disrupt international travel. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed skepticism, noting that such actions could affect the upcoming World Cup.”
ABC7 Los Angeles
The Guardian
