A leading organization representing America’s travel sector issued a warning Friday that pulling immigration personnel from Newark airport would inflict “immediate and lasting harm” while potentially costing the nation’s economy $8 billion each year in tourist expenditures.
The U.S. Travel Association highlighted that customs personnel at the New Jersey airport, located near New York City, handle processing for 5 million Americans returning to the country each year.
“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 organization stated.
