- DHS urged not to reduce CBP airport operations.
- Airports and airlines rely on federal inspection services to move people.
- Associations warned airport disruptions would have nationwide consequences.
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS URGED the U.S. Department of Homeland Security not to reduce Customs and Border Protection operations at U.S. airports. The department is considering reducing customs processing services at airports in cities that do not follow Trump administration immigration policies.
More than 15 associations, including the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Airline Passenger Experience Association, Airlines for America, Global Business Travel Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Travel Association, warned that disruptions at major international gateway airports would have nationwide consequences, affecting travelers, businesses, supply chains and airport operations.
“Any reduction in CBP operations at major U.S. gateway airports threatens to cause chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system,” the associations said in a joint statement. “International aviation networks are interconnected and operational changes at a small number of gateway airports will quickly ripple across the country, affecting travelers, cargo shipments, supply chains and the communities that depend on those connections.”
The proposal could affect international travel at major airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Airports and airlines rely on stable federal inspection services to keep people and commerce moving, the associations said.
“We urge DHS to avoid actions that would create operational and economic consequences for communities nationwide,” the associations said. “As the United States prepares for growing international travel demand, DHS should avoid creating bottlenecks and economic consequences across the country. Now is the time to strengthen America’s gateway infrastructure, not weaken it.”
In April, the House approved a bill funding much of the Department of Homeland Security, already passed by the Senate, ending a 75-day shutdown. AHLA had said reopening was overdue and did not erase the damage caused.
