House Homeland Security Committee Republicans question TSA on illegal migrant passage

Republican members of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee recently raised concerns that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is allowing illegal migrants to use arrest warrants and removal/deportation warrants as valid identification documents to go through airport security screening. 

“With crime and illegal migration at record numbers in this country, there is no excuse for this irresponsible and misguided policy,” the lawmakers wrote in a Jan. 26 letter sent to TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

Among the committee members who signed the letter are Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY) and fellow committee colleagues U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Peter Meijer (R-MI), and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY).

“We understand that TSA has allowed migrants who do not have acceptable forms of identification to present alternative Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-issued documents so they can proceed through TSA security screening to board flights,” according to their letter. “The reliability of these DHS documents for confirming an individual’s identity should never outweigh the risk of allowing unescorted illegal migrants with arrest or removal/deportation warrants to proceed through security checkpoints and board commercial flights without an ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] or other law enforcement escort.”

“The American people deserve a safe and secure U.S. aviation system,” the members wrote. 

The lawmakers requested that Pekoske and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “end this policy” and answer several questions, including how many non-U.S. citizens have been screened at TSA security checkpoints after presenting ICE Forms I-200 and I-205 for identification since Jan. 1, 2021; and whether TSA alerts ICE and state or local law enforcement when it relies on an arrest warrant or removal/deportation warrant for identification purposes at the security checkpoint.

Among other questions, they also asked if TSA informs airports and air carriers that migrants with such documents are on airport premises and/or flying on the aircraft, and whether TSA has conducted any analysis regarding the risk this situation poses for the transportation system.