USA May Limit Customs Clearance at Some Major Airports: What This Means for Tourists Before World Cup 2026

The US tourism industry has warned of the risk of large-scale disruptions to international travel if the US Department of Homeland Security reduces or removes Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called "sanctuary cities". The decision has not yet been made, but the preparation of such a scenario has become important news for travelers: only a few days remain until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, and international hubs in New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, and Philadelphia could be critical for tourists entering the USA.

According to reports from Reuters and AP, US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullen stated that the administration is working on plans that could stop or significantly limit the processing of international passengers and cargo at major airports in cities that the federal government considers "sanctuary cities". This is not about an already implemented ban or a published final list of airports, but about a scenario that, according to the official, is at the stage of preparation and consideration.

This uncertainty has caused a sharp reaction from the tourism business. On May 29, Airlines for America published an appeal from a group of organizations representing airlines, airports, the hotel business, and other travel segments. In the appeal, they urged the DHS not to take actions that would significantly reduce the work of the CBP at airport checkpoints. The argument is simple: even a partial disruption at one large international hub quickly spreads to connecting flights, crews, baggage, cargo transportation, hotel bookings, and ground logistics.

What Exactly May Change

CBP is responsible for border and customs clearance of passengers arriving in the USA on international flights. If there are not enough officers at a particular airport or their work is limited, it is not like a usual delay at control. In the most severe scenario, an airport may lose the ability to accept international arrivals because there will be simply no one to process passengers for entry. This is why the aviation industry is talking not only about longer queues, but about the risk of flight cancellations or diversions.

Reuters lists among potentially sensitive destinations Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Seattle, and San Francisco. This does not mean that all these airports will automatically fall under restrictions. What is important is that the listed cities have large international gateways or play a significant role in domestic transfers. For a tourist, this means that the risk may affect not only a direct flight to the USA, but also a route with a transfer through an American hub.

For practical planning, it is worth monitoring the pages of specific airports. Guides are available on the site for Newark Liberty Airport (EWR), New York JFK Airport, Los Angeles Airport (LAX), Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD), Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA), and San Francisco Airport (SFO). If the route is already booked, it is also useful to check online boards, for example for EWR, JFK, LAX, or SFO.

Why the Moment is Especially Sensitive

The news became resonant not only because of the political context. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, and the USA will host a significant part of the matches. Such events create special pressure on aviation: some tourists fly directly to the match city, some use large hubs for connections, and some combine a sports trip with visiting several states.

In a normal summer season, a large airport can handle delays through schedule reserves, alternative flights, and more flexible demand. Before the World Cup, there is less room for maneuver. Hotels become more expensive, match dates are fixed, fans often fly in groups, and domestic flights between host cities may be more loaded than in a normal June. If an international flight arrives late or is diverted, a tourist may lose not only their connection but also part of their paid program.

Travel Weekly, citing the U.S. Travel Association, reports that CBP officers at Newark airport alone process about 5 million Americans returning to the USA annually, and the loss of international visitors through this hub could cost the US economy billions of dollars per year. These estimates should be taken as the industry's position, but they clearly show the scale of tourism's dependence on the stable operation of border infrastructure.

What "Sanctuary City" Means and Why It Is Important for Aviation

The term "sanctuary city" in the USA usually describes cities or jurisdictions that limit the cooperation of local authorities with federal immigration agencies. There is no single universal definition, so the list of such cities may vary depending on the political or legal context. For travelers, the important part is not the definition itself, but that airports in such cities may find themselves at the center of a federal-local conflict.

US aviation infrastructure works as a single network. A passenger who flew to New York or Los Angeles may transfer to a flight to another state within a few hours. Crews, aircraft, baggage flows, and cargo also move through the same nodes. Therefore, reducing the work of the CBP at one checkpoint can create delays far beyond the specific city.

Associated Press also notes that even US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy publicly expressed skepticism about the idea of limiting air connections on a political basis. This once again emphasizes: the scenario is not an agreed-upon and already launched policy. However, for tourists and tour operators, the risk is important precisely at the discussion stage, because summer routes are already booked, and last-minute rebooking can be expensive.

Which Travelers May Feel the Consequences First

The most vulnerable will be passengers flying to the USA on an international flight with a short connection to a domestic destination. If customs and border clearance slows down, the standard time buffer between flights may not be enough. This especially concerns routes through New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle, where international flow combines with a large number of domestic connections.

The second risky segment is tourists planning to arrive for a specific match date or event. For them, a delay of even a few hours can have a higher cost than for a regular vacation. If match tickets, hotel, and transfer are tied to one day, it is advisable to allow for an extra night or at least a larger buffer between arrival and the main event.

The third group is business and group trips. Here the problem is not only with one passenger, but in the synchronization of the entire group. If part of the participants arrive on different flights through different hubs, tour operators and corporate travel managers should prepare alternative communication, transfer, and accommodation schemes in advance.

How to Prepare for a Trip to the USA This Summer

While the decision has not been made, there is no reason to cancel trips en masse. But it makes sense to plan the route as if additional uncertainty may appear at airports. First and foremost, avoid overly short connections after an international arrival. To enter the USA, a passenger goes through passport control, customs, often collects baggage and re-checks it for a domestic flight. Even without crisis decisions, this can take more time than in many European airports.

• check airline and airport messages 48, 24, and 6 hours before departure;
• choose connections with a sufficient time buffer, especially after the first arrival in the USA;
• keep airline, hotel, insurance, and transfer service contacts in your phone and separately in email;
• for trips to a match or cruise, arrive at least one day before the key event;
• check if insurance covers delays, flight cancellations, and additional accommodation;
• if booking a car or transfer, choose terms with the possibility of changing the arrival time.

For ground logistics after arrival, verified pages with services near airports may be useful: hotels near EWR, hotels near JFK, transfers from LAX, car rental in ORD, and transfers from SEA. Such links do not replace official airline messages, but help to orient oneself faster if the schedule changes.

What This Means for the Tourism Market

For the USA, this story is dangerous not only because of possible delays. It affects trust in the country as a receiving destination in the year of a major international event. Tourism depends on predictability: a traveler must understand that their flight will be accepted, documents will be checked within reasonable timeframes, and rules will not change suddenly before departure. If political uncertainty arises around border clearance, it can affect airline ticket sales, group tours, hotel bookings, and the decisions of foreign fans.

For airlines, the risk is wider. International flights are planned in advance, and changing the arrival point is not a simple gate change. Crews, slots, ground handling, fuel, baggage infrastructure, CBP availability in an alternative airport, and the ability to transport passengers further are required. If the problem occurs in several hubs simultaneously, finding a replacement quickly will be difficult.

For World Cup host cities and for tourist regions, this is a question of reputation. Fans flying to matches often spend money not only on tickets, but also on restaurants, transport, museums, excursions, and souvenirs. Entry delays or flight cancellations can change the entire economics of the trip, especially for short tours of 3-5 days.

Conclusion

As of June 5, 2026, restrictions on CBP operations in major US airports have not been implemented, but the topic has moved from political statements to the plane of real planning and industry concern. That is why tourists should monitor official messages from the DHS, CBP, airlines, and specific airports, and also not build a route with a minimum time buffer.

The best strategy for a traveler now is not panic, but flexibility. If you are flying to the USA in June or July, especially during the FIFA World Cup 2026, check your route, increase the buffer for connections, keep alternative ground logistics options at hand, and do not postpone checking documents until the last day. While the rules have not changed, travel continues in normal mode, but in a season with such a load, even a potential disruption in border clearance deserves careful planning.