DHS is reportedly warning United Airlines to prepare for the potential shutdown of Customs processing at Newark Liberty International Airport, a move that would create aviation chaos in order to score political points. This is another foolish idea from an administration that is rapidly losing public trust and confidence, even from those that once supported it.
DHS Threat To Shut Down Customs At Newark Would Be Aviation Madness
The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly warned that it may stop processing international passengers and cargo at Newark (EWR), a key United Airlines transatlantic gateway, as part of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against sanctuary jurisdictions.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration may soon halt the processing of international travelers and cargo at Newark because local law enforcement in Northern New Jersey is not “cooperating” with federal immigration enforcement and failing to control protests over the conditions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities near Newark Airport.
On Fox & Friends, Mullin warned:
“If things don’t change, we’re going to have to make this step pretty quick.”
He added:
“That may effect international flights coming in and out of their airport because I’m going to have to pull Customs and Border Protection officers out of being able to process international flights and put them helping our ICE agents. By the way, if you can’t process international flights because Customs is closed, you can’t obviously process international flights coming in from out of country.”
While the DHS won’t “halt flights” an international flight cannot land at Newark if there are no agents there to process inbound passengers:
“We are not going to halt the flights, we won’t be able to process them because we won’t have officers there. We will have to pull out our Customs and Border Patrol officers that process these flights and put them in these facilities to help protect our employees coming out to work.”
It appears now more than ever that Mullin’s threat to suspend customs and border procedures at major U.S. gateways was not an empty threat. He seems to think that these agents must be pulled from airports and reassigned to detention facilities in order to “protect” other federal employees from protestors and that the problem is particularly acute near Newark at the Delaney Hall facility, where protests have grown violent due to perceived inhumane facilities there.
Of course, such a move would not just punish state and local politicians in the Garden State. It would punish airline workers, cargo operators, business travelers, tourists, hotels, restaurants, convention centers, connecting passengers, and Americans returning home to red states…
It would also cripple one of the most important international gateways in the United States.
Newark is major United hub and a critical New York-area gateway. If CBP processing at Newark were halted or materially reduced, international flights could not land at Newark assent a technical step for processing elsewhere.
You cannot just tell United, “Use another airport.” That is not how airline networks work…
This Would Break United’s Newark Hub
United has built Newark into a massive international hub. Its transatlantic network depends on the ability to bring passengers into Newark, clear them through Customs, and connect them onward across the United States.
A traveler flying from Frankfurt to Cleveland via Newark? Sorry. A passenger from Tel Aviv to West Palm Beach via Newark? Good luck.
Remove Customs processing, and you do not just inconvenience United. You break the hub and exacerbate the economic problem already unleashed.
Flights would have to be canceled, rerouted, or delayed. Crews would be displaced. Aircraft rotations would be disrupted. Connections would fall apart. Cargo would be delayed. Passengers would face longer routings and higher costs.
And for what?
To pressure local officials over immigration cooperation? That is a reckless way to run a country and not even the purview of state and local governments….immigration and border protection is a federal function and local law enforcement officers cannot end non-violent protests over squalid detention facility conditions (hello First Amendment).
The Contingency Planning Sounds Enormous
There is also an unverified but highly-detailed claim circulating on X that United has been told to prepare for the shutdown of some CBP processing hubs (even beyond Newark) on or about July 25, after the World Cup final.
To be clear: I have not independently verified this operational plan, and United has not publicly confirmed it. But the claim is detailed enough, and consistent enough with the Reuters reporting, that it is worth considering what this could look like.
The claim says United has been advised that the impact could touch an estimated 72% of its daily international arrivals, reduced to about 47% with “non-impactful” rerouting where passengers already had connections. The alleged mitigation plan would push arrivals toward airports like Washington Dulles (IAD), Houston (IAH), Las Vegas (LAS), and Guam (GUM), while relying more heavily on Dublin Preclearance for Europe.
The same claim suggests that direct international arrivals into San Francisco, Newark, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Denver could be curtailed, with Asia traffic routed through Guam unless already headed to Dulles or Houston, and Mexico, Caribbean, and South American traffic pushed through Houston or even Las Vegas for some western Mexico routes.
Again, unverified…and seemingly far-fetched.
But even if the details are only partially correct, the broader point is obvious: this would not be a small operational adjustment. It would be a massive and costly rerouting exercise.
That is not a serious way to run an aviation system.
Airports Are Not Political Hostages
I understand the federal government has authority over immigration enforcement. I also understand there are legitimate debates over sanctuary policies and how much state and local governments should cooperate with ICE. Local law enforcement also should not tolerate violence from protestors.
Have that debate, but do not hold international aviation hostage! Send in the National Guard if local police are overwhelmed and unable to keep order…but don’t send CBP staff, as if the folks who process international immigration are suddenly going to start repelling protestors with batons and shields.
CBP staffing at an airport is not a favor to a city. It is a federal function that supports national travel, commerce, tourism, cargo, and border processing. Newark does not receive Customs officers because New Jersey politicians have been sufficiently obedient. It receives Customs officers because the United States needs functioning international ports of entry for itself, which includes red states and the national economy.
Even Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has reportedly expressed opposition to the broader idea of disrupting air travel over sanctuary city disputes, though he’ll be quick to parrot anything his lord and savior Donald Trump comes out in support of.
The World Cup Timing Makes This Even More Absurd
The timing makes this even more absurd. The New York/New Jersey region is one of the World Cup host areas, and Newark will be a key gateway for international visitors.
The unverified July 25 date being circulated would fall after the World Cup final, which suggests even DHS understands how catastrophic it would be to disrupt international arrivals before or during the tournament.
But the same logic applies afterward! The U.S. travel system does not become disposable once the World Cup ends. International aviation is not a switch you flip on and off to punish your political enemies.
Will United CEO Scott Kirby finally have the courage to stand up to this administration and push back?
CONCLUSION
DHS threatening to halt Customs processing at Newark over sanctuary policies is one of the dumbest aviation ideas I have ever seen.
Whatever you think about immigration enforcement, Newark Airport is not a bargaining chip and United’s hub is not a pawn. International passengers and airline employees should not be punished because the administration wants to pressure local officials to do its job for it. If the concern is uniquely the violence of the Delaney Hall protests, President Trump can send in the New Jersey National Guard.
If even part of the United contingency chatter is accurate, the impact would be staggering: massive rerouting, disrupted international arrivals, shifted connection flows, and an operational mess that would ripple far beyond Newark.
The broader point is this: if DHS has a legal dispute with sanctuary jurisdictions, fight it in court. Do not weaponize the nation’s aviation infrastructure. This proposal should die immediately.
Just taxi the international flights to the domestic gates and open the doors. Not only one party can be cookoo, two can be cookoo at the same time.
Then United’s operating certificate will be suspended by the FAA and all flights will cease
Markwayne Mullin, the former cage fighter turned Cabinet secretary whose primary qualification for running the Department of Homeland Security appears to be a reflexive impulse to engage in Senate hearing pugilism, has threatened to strip Customs and Border Protection officers from Newark Liberty International Airport and redeploy them to stand outside a detention facility in New Jersey to glare at protesters.
Why? Because the governor of New Jersey has declined to conscript local police into federal immigration enforcement, which is, one might note for the secretary’s benefit, a federal function.
All this from the “state’s rights” crowd, who extol the virtues of federalism until the duly elected state governments disagree. Guess we’re all free to have an opinion, as long as it’s Donny T and the Thug Bunch’s opinion.
This is what happens when you staff a Cabinet with performance artists who owe their jobs to a seemingly endless capacity for self-debasement in the service of a petty boy-king: the performance is spectacular, the governance is nonexistent, and the passengers stuck in Frankfurt are not particularly impressed by either.
Matthew, I’m with you. Utter silliness. Dear Baffoon in the White House, I’ve never supported a Democrat seeking the presidency (but I’d opt for 8 more years of Bill (heck no Hillary)), I never voted for you, and I hope you just enjoy your dementia without doing stupid things. And, think about Melania. She has to pretend the 3 minutes satisfies her.
Re: “And, think about Melania. She has to pretend the 3 minutes satisfies her.” Fixed it: Think about Melania (definition of gold digger) who has to pretend she actually likes you (Dear MAGA Leader).
No one should have any sympathy for Melania. Former model (read prostitute) who is every bit as greedy and sociopathic and mendacious as her husband.
Major Canadian airports have U.S. pre-clearance facilities. If Chicago and Newark loses customs service, U.S. citizens who travel to or from Europe may instead fly on Air Canada. Thanks Trump for making Canada great again.
This is nonsense. If this happens as stated above –land the planes and let the passengers out at the domestic gates.
Then all those passengers will have entered the United States without authorisation. What you’re suggesting is not a sensible solution.
United have to take these threats seriously if there’s even the slightest hint this insanity could come to fruition.
In a strange way, I almost hope they follow through on these threats. The impact on the US economy would be so catastrophic that it’d leave no place for these idiots to hide. Sometimes, the only through the bad thing is right through the middle of it.
It’s true – if DHS is not going to staff its booths, then travelers should just walk right through…it’s a potential constitutional crisis that should never have been even been remotely possible in the first place.
Creating the incentives for cooperation of the intransigent local officials.
Bravo. 🙂
that $1 million contribution from UA to 47’s inaugual party just keeps on reaping benefits for UA, now doesn’t it?
How is that JFK, ATL, DTW etc aren’t on the list?
The airlines there bribed the Trunp administration more?
He’s not going to go after states with senate or governor seats in play this fall
other airlines simply accept their lot and don’t try to bribe their way out of the consequences of their own mismanagement.
There have been stories on national media for months about the chaos at that ICE facility in New Jersey.
At some point the feds are going to act to ensure it can run; that is not happening at ICE facilities in other US states. The US has made clear that it will not cede its authority including over immigration to any state or local authority.
UA is an enormously influential business in NJ.
If UA wants to keep its operation running smoothly at EWR, perhaps Scott Kirby better spend the summer in Trenton getting NJ lawmakers to fix the mess they have allowed to spiral out of control.
and, if he can’t convince them, then maybe he should hire a police force that will protect ICE.
The drumbeat of potential disruption will certainly grow stronger over the next few months and it will cost UA customers that do not want to get caught in the middle.
JFK is clearly not a at risk. Unlike many metro areas, there are easy alternatives for a federal crackdown in NYC
btw, I’m betting that NJ will blink
“The US has made clear that it will not cede its authority including over immigration to any state or local authority”
But then you want them to create a police force to protect ICE. Stick to fluffing Ed bastion, you seem to have a better handle on that
everyone read that ? Tim Dunn just outed himself as a far right Tяumpian, disguised as “objective analyses” that parrots every talking point that is spewed by the regime while blindly defending the airline that started then quickly ditched SEA-KIX thrice in the span of 2 decades, and one that was so desperate it was trying to use Riyadh as their new scissor hub to India. Ha !!!
Maybe New Jersey should control the lunatics outside the Ice facility threatening agents and their families. I understand they don’t represent all Democrats but the reality is they are the face of the party because the leaders won’t condemn their actions.
Look what happened to Andy Kim for trying to call them out. The far, far left mob is running the party now and no one has the courage to stand in their way. See the guy with the Nazi tattoo running for Senate in Maine. No one in the Democrat party will call him because they think he can gain them a seat.
Shut customs at the airport down, it won’t affect 99.99% of us.
As opposed to all the Nazis in the Republican party and current administration? Not to mention all the actions their followers commit which are never condemned…
Seriously, every accusation is a confession…
LOL….it’s so true. They never try to hide their hand, and are creating a blueprint for some ‘progressive’ to use in the future.
IMO that’s going to be the pathetic legacy of MAGA…..showing how weak and easy our democracy is to manipulate. Too much of it was left to ‘tradition’. The problem with that approach is that in the future the politicians who will be doing it will be the democratic party who are clearly in the majority, and the gifts they give won’t be to the oligarchs and corporations, but to the people. And once those start flowing there will be no stopping them.
The ignorance and chutzpah of the current Republican Party and their lack of even pretending to do their jobs will go down in history as one of the most monumental political miscalculations in American history.
And to listen to these ‘conservatives’ try to always pivot to the democratic party and weakly try to blame all of their criminal behavior on them is nauseating. For some reason they don’t see how weak, pathetic and childish they look when they do it. What a bunch of cowards.
Let’s save the time, you want them to shoot all the rest of us just like in Minnesota, don’t you? Make sure your neighbors know where you stand while you’re standing there grinning like a moron Kyle
You mean the “Mom of the Year” that tried to run over an agent? Or the male nurse that brought a gun to a protest? Definitely Darwin winners right there in Omarland. And yes, I have no issue with shooting anyone who attacks another in self defense like the guy who bit 2 agents.
As for my neighbors most agree with me, it’s a conservative upper middle class district where we see the danger the fringe left are. And we don’t want illegals, other than the ones that clean or houses and landscape our beautiful lawns. You know, because Americans won’t do those jobs. They are too busy protesting and crying about why they can’t get ahead. When they get off their lazy asses and put the video game controllers down.
And my neighbors also know I was a former adult movie actor and don’t care either. I’m sure you own a couple of my Colt Studio classics and enjoy them daily.
Who cares what you think, you are going to hell because of your career.
I can’t wait for the conversations with Ruthie Ginsberg and Bernie when he gets there. Hell I even bang chicks with the 3 Kennedy brothers, it’s gonna be a party!
Its so funny when people support a party that would hang them if given the chance, like you would be the exception. Lol
“the male nurse that brought a gun to a protest” If you have a problem with citizens who are legally allowed to own and carry a weapon, you should go after Kyle Rittenhouse, the Proud Boys, and all your beloved militia members who attended anti police brutality protests with guns, you ignorant hypocrite.
Someone should’ve hit Mullin just a little harder in the head in his previous job and spared us all his idiocy down the road.
Eh, he’s just a country-fried lackwit who was appointed because the Mad Orange God-King knew he’d do what he was told without question. How someone like Mullin ever became a Senator, let alone Secretary of anything, is beyond my comprehension.
I’ll believe it if it actually happens. But if it does happen, break out the popcorn because a lot of stuff that ought to be spread on people’s faces per Malachi 2:3 will really hit the fan.
seems like UA is in better shape than other carriers given they can reroute many of the connections through other hubs. The Guam hub is looking golden right about now.
Could they also use HNL as a hub for this purpose?
Kirby should learn the sucking up to Trump results in no favors in return.
For aviation enthusiasts → The UA aircraft featured in the article is a B737-900ER (age: 11.7 years). It has just left gate at EWR and is taxiing for takeoff.
This dumb plan is about what I would expect from a guy named markwayne.
All that sucking up and political schmoozing that Kirby did with Trump, and looks like he will see the worst hits. Of course this is ludicrous, and should not happen. I agree with all this. I am also so tired of Kirby’s suck-up-edness, that I hope he learns to tone it down. He is the reason I cannot tolerate UA. But Trump is the reason I don’t recognize the USA.
Sounds like the kinda guy who tailgates and flips fingers. In the end they are small minded and weak. “I’m gonna F*%k you up dude!!!!” Whatever, just do it and spare me the flexing.
I really hope they do this. Telling them the fire is hot has not worked, they need to learn the hard way.
So shut CBP – Chaos ensues – TV is filled with reports of ruined trips – massive public backlash – Mullin is fired as DJT steps in to save the day – Kyle Prescott posts here to tell us how the dem’s caused this
If this is the airport serving NJ’s gangster bosses, one imagines any two-bit politician who tries to close it down will quickly be dispatched inside a concrete overpass
News from New Jersey Saturday night is that the NJ governor condemns the rioting and violence and the Newark Majoy has imposed a curfew around the ICE detention facility
The state blinked and the feds won. Anyone that didn’t think that would be the outcome, no matter how badly you like or dislike what that facility does, is simply delusional
UA’s EWR operation will very likely not suffer from a CBP shutdown
Elizabeth is not a sanctuary city. Newark should cede Terminals A and B to Elizabeth. Problem solved.
I’m sick to death of adolescent Dishonest Don’s antics to “settle scores” with cities, states, and people who do not kowtow to his Commandment-breaking self. I hope United sues him, DHS, and DHS commandant and licensed plumber Markwayne Mullin. Almost as sick of Mullin’s use of military jargon and vague hints like he was military or intelligence when neither is true, not even National Guard nor reserves.
After “sponsoring” Secretary Duffy with one million dollars on his road trip, it ain’t going to happen. This plan will basically shut down United’s major transatlantic hub.
Golly, I wonder why no one wants to come to the US for the World Cup.