US Homeland Security chief sees no need to stop international flight processing at Newark Airport
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) – U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said on Monday there was no need to halt international flight operations at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport, citing the cooperation of state and local law enforcement officials near a detention center.
“As long as we continue this partnership with local and state law enforcement, that won’t be necessary,” Mullin said at a news conference in Dallas.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Friday ordered state police to take control outside an immigrant detention center in Newark that became a flashpoint for a week of clashes between protesters and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Sherrill, a Democrat, said he took action to quell rising tensions and violence outside Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed prison operated by the private company Geo Group.
Mullin again acknowledged there is a plan to withdraw customs officials from the airport to assist with security efforts at Newark Airport, a major United Airlines hub outside New York City, but said that is not needed at this time because of efforts by state and local law enforcement.
On Thursday, Mullin warned that the Trump administration could soon halt international passenger and cargo processing at Newark Airport. Major airline, travel and business groups on Friday warned that blocking border processing at Newark Airport or other major U.S. airports could cause chaos, stranding thousands of tourists and Americans trying to return home and disrupting crucial cargo shipments.
Mullin has repeatedly said he may also halt immigration at more than a dozen other airports in so-called sanctuary cities, including Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco.
The U.S. Travel Association said closing all international flights at 18 airports serving sanctuary cities would cause more than $70 billion in damage to the economy and affect 68 million international travelers annually.
Foreign visitors are expected to attend this month’s football World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. The final will be held on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, approximately 12 miles (19.31 km) from Newark Airport.
(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Additional reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
