In a letter sent to Congressman Kenny Marchant (R-TX), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) admitted it is allowing illegal aliens to board commercial aircraft with no more than a Notice to Appear as identification. The TSA letter confirms initial reports in July 2014 that the TSA was allowing illegal aliens to board aircraft without proper identification, which the Obama Administration denied, calling the claims “completely wrong.”
However, in the August 7 letter to Rep. Marchant, the TSA admitted:
If a passenger does not have an acceptable form of identification, then the passenger is allowed to present two other forms of identification. One of the two forms of identification must bear the individual’s name and other identifying information such as photo, address, phone number, social security number, or date of birth. TSA may assess a variety of government issued documents to establish passenger identity. The [Notice to Appear] form may be used along with another form of identification in this instance.
The letter continues:
If a passenger can only present a [Notice to Appear Form], TSA will attempt to establish the passenger’s identity through DHS partner Components, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Border Patrol agents, could not hold back its disdain for the TSA policy, which clearly creates gaping loopholes in the security of our nation’s transportation system. Spokesman Hector Garza told reporters:
This just adds insult to injury. Not only are we releasing unknown illegal aliens onto American streets, but we are allowing them to travel commercially using paperwork that could easily be reproduced or manipulated on any home computer. The Notice to Appear form has no photo, anyone can make one and manipulate one. They do not have any security features, no watermark, nothing. They are simply printed on standard copy paper based on the information the illegal alien says is the truth.
We do not know who these people are, we often have to solely rely on who they say they are, where they say they came from, and the history they say they have. We know nothing about most of them, ICE releases them into the American public, and now they are boarding aircraft at will with a simple paper document that anyone can easily alter or reproduce themselves.
Equally disturbing, by allowing illegal aliens to board commercial aircraft with only an NTA, the TSA appears to be violating its own policy. According to the TSA website, updated August 21, 2014, the agency states that to board an aircraft, adult passengers over 18 must present a valid U.S. Federal or State-issued photo ID that contains a name, date of birth, expiration date, social security number, phone number, and a tamper-resistant feature.
Note, however, that the NTA contains neither a photograph of the alien, nor has any tamper-resistant features. (See Form I-862, Sample Notice to Appear) Moreover, while the TSA states that for those whose documents are lost or stolen, an individual may present two other forms of ID, yet in its letter, the TSA admits it is letting illegal aliens board with nothing more than an NTA.
This article originally appeared in FAIR’s Legislative Update on August 27, 2014.
11 Comments
Evidently John Winthrop has his head up and locked. Also I doubt if he understands what the President said and how the TSA refuted(sorry John,didn’t mean to use such big words) his claim. Personally,it is hard to believe either story except the Liar of the Year makes another falsehood into his mantra. We can’t believe anything this douchebag of a President says.
Funny…..it has been like this for decades…….
Then why did the administration deny it was happening? It says so right at the end of the first paragraph, backed up by a link. Then again, you rarely read anything. Or at least it would seem so, since you make claims at odds with the evidence provided.
Leland And u r so quick to jump and make assumptions… U r blinded and locked mentally by this king everything w immigration is bad…..what I said it is a fact….that is the very reason I do laugh…… That is all….it has been happening…but everybody ignores it
Relax…….step ha k and read my comment again…..this has been known so everybody is at fault…..but nobody ever cared… If so it would have been fixed….and again relax…
You didn’t answer the question. Why did the administration deny it was happening if, according to you, “it has been like this for decades”? Why does the letter from the TSA state “if the passenger does not have an acceptable form of identification..”? There is either acceptable or unacceptable identification. Except of course when you are here illegally. Then this administration lets you do what you want.
;Leland….this is a well-known fact but you and many have no idea….they have driver’s licenses or a State ID……………………..and before that they never checked DLs…….u live in the shadows……..again….you believe what you have no idea…!!!!! AMAZING!!
by the way……you keep on going on your silly out of the point questions AND STILL YET!!!!…yo did not understand what Arnolf said…….I CAN ASSURE YOU NOBODY>>>>NOBODY goes through TSA unless he/she has documentation……….SO the gov is right……as far as they r concerned they never did that…..the illegals or whoever they are complied with the docs requested…o[pen your mind….travel…….see the WOrld….learn our reality be illiterate culturally in this matter.
Leland it was already answered………..as long as they are concerned they present the required IDs………you really are mentally stiff……………….and the Snarky Republican does measure up to being obsolete and not from the 21st century…………by worrying missing letters that obviously anybody is aware of ….I am sorry I meant 21st century individuals that use the internet at all times and already is understood………..unless you are old& obsolete = Snarky Republican.
You can change your name, but you still haven’t answered the question.
At least he spells better under Winthrop
Leland it was already answered………..as long as they are concerned they present the required IDs………you really are mentally stiff……………….and the Snarky Republican does measure up to being obsolete and not from the 21st century…………by worrying missing letters that obviously anybody is aware of ….I am sorry I meant 21st century individuals that use the internet at all times and already is understood………..unless you are old& obsolete = Snarky Republican.