WASHINGTON, May 29 (Reuters) – A group representing the U.S. travel industry said Friday that removing immigration officials from Newark airport would cause “immediate and lasting harm” and could cost the U.S. economy $8 billion annually in spending by tourists.
The U.S. Travel Association noted that U.S. customs officials at New Jersey’s Newark airport near New York City process 5 million Americans returning home annually.
“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 group said.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
