Removing CBP Officers from Newark Liberty Will Strand Americans, Devastate Travel Economy

Removing U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from Newark Liberty International Airport or other international airports would cause immediate and lasting harm.

The consequences would be severe and would impact more Americans traveling home from abroad than international visitors. American travelers from across the U.S. could find their flights into the U.S. diverted or cancelled. Many could be stranded abroad or stuck in another U.S. city without a connecting flight home. CBP officers at Newark Liberty International Airport alone process 5 million Americans returning home each year, and many of them are from states other than New Jersey.

Millions of international visitors will face the same disruption, and with the FIFA World Cup weeks away, the damage to America’s reputation as a welcoming destination would be significant and lasting.

The overall economic impact to the travel industry would be devastating—an estimated $8 billion in annual international visitor spending would be lost due to CBP officers being removed from Newark Airport, risking nearly 50,000 American jobs. But the fallout would also go far beyond travel. A recent survey found more than three-quarters of international visitors shopped at American small businesses during their visit, and the shutdown would imperil cargo operations that bring in over $30 billion in imported goods each year, increasing shipping costs for U.S. businesses and raising prices for American consumers.

Pulling CBP officers from airports would cause a severe, self-inflicted economic wound. American citizens trying to get home, international visitors, and the success of a once-in-a-generation global event cannot be used as leverage—as a threat, a punishment or a catalyst for negotiation—in disputes over immigration. We urge all parties to find solutions for disputes over immigration policy without impacting travel.