Picture this. You've booked your flight months in advance. You're ready to experience the FIFA World Cup in the United States. Your plane touches down at a major hub like Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York. But there's a problem: there's no one to process your passport, check your visa, or clear you for entry. You're stuck on the tarmac.

This scenario isn't hypothetical anymore. The Trump administration is actively drafting plans to suspend customs and immigration processing at airports in so-called sanctuary cities, according to remarks made by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The move would essentially prevent international flights from operating in those locations, creating chaos just as the world prepares to converge on American soil for one of sports' biggest events.

The threat looms over World Cup hosting

Mullin told Fox News that the administration is "currently drawing up plans" to halt Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations at airports in cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Without CBP screening international travelers, airlines simply wouldn't be able to land those flights at all. As Mullin explained, "If CBP isn't there processing international flights, then those individuals when the airlines land won't be permitted into the United States."

The cities under threat read like a roster of global transportation hubs. Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Seattle, and San Francisco are all potentially affected. New York/Newark, LAX, and Chicago alone handled over 50 million international arrivals last year. Stripping customs processing from even one of these airports would cripple travel infrastructure.

The timing couldn't be worse. The World Cup is coming to American soil in 2026, and the tournament is expected to draw millions of international visitors. Tour operators, hoteliers, restaurants, and countless businesses across the country are banking on those visitors arriving smoothly and spending freely. A disruption of this magnitude would tank tourism revenue when the industry is already struggling.

A power play rooted in immigration politics

Mullin's push isn't new. He first floated the idea in April during budget disputes with Congress and escalating criticism over ICE detention conditions. The timing of his most recent comments, however, coincided with unrest at the Delaney Hall Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, where detainees staged a hunger strike and refused to work, protesting poor food, inadequate medical care, overcrowding, and blocked progress on their cases. Protests outside the facility stretched for days, with demonstrators clashing with federal agents.

The administration insists conditions at the facility are acceptable and dismisses complaints as political theater. Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates disagree sharply. "The food conditions are horrible. We feel that they're not getting medical services. They're overcrowded and denied their fundamental rights," said New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat. "We will continue to fight to shut this place down."

The tourism industry and lawmakers push back hard

The backlash has been swift and pointed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaking during a House Budget Committee hearing, directly opposed Mullin's idea. "People from around the world and around the country need to be able to fly into all kinds of places," Duffy said. "We shouldn't shut down air travel in a state that doesn't agree with our politics." New Jersey Representative LaMonica McIver called the proposal "petty and vindictive," arguing that punishing travelers over local political disagreements would cause economic chaos heading into the World Cup.

Travel industry representatives have warned of catastrophic consequences. Without functional customs processing, they point out, the entire international travel system grinds to a halt. This isn't just about the World Cup, either. It's about the broader American tourism sector, which has already been battered by what some analysts call the "Trump Slump." Stricter immigration policies and negative global perceptions have already discouraged international visitors from choosing the US as a destination. Suspending airport processing would send that message in the loudest possible way.

What's at stake for travelers

For travelers like you, this uncertainty creates real problems. If you're planning to visit the World Cup, book a connection through one of these major hubs, or simply travel to the US during 2026, you need to understand what's happening behind the scenes. The situation remains fluid. No final decision has been made, but the fact that this is even being considered at the federal level speaks to the political temperature around immigration enforcement.

The World Cup is supposed to showcase America to the world. Instead, international visitors may encounter closed borders and broken promises. Mullin has indicated the administration would act "pretty quick" if things don't change. Whether that threat materializes or gets walked back remains to be seen, but for now, uncertainty is the only certainty.