Hawley slams TSA over 'special privileges for illegal immigrants'

Concerns about “special privileges for illegal immigrants” sparked by airport signage prompted a GOP senator to demand answers about potential security threats.

President Joe Biden's long-ignored border crisis has been easily exacerbated by providing “passage” for foreign nationals instead of stemming the flow of illegal entry. Reports that foreigners have been allowed to travel on domestic flights without having to provide photo identification prompted Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley (R) to demand answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the “outrageous” threat .

“This practice not only undermines the rule of law, but also raises significant safety concerns for commercial flights,” Hawley wrote in a letter to Transportation Security Administration Administrator David Pekoske, reported by first by Fox News.

“If this report is accurate, that's outrageous,” the senator said of airport signage that detailed how foreigners could choose not to have their picture taken by TSA.

Letter from Senator Hawley to Pekos… for Fox News

The Missouri lawmaker's letter appeared to be a response to a social media post by commentator Dave Rubin who had shared an image taken at Miami International Airport.

“I just took this photo. This is the state of absolute insanity going on at our airports. I'm in the Pre-TSA line where migrants don't have to have ID to go through security and it's their choice if they want to take a picture. There's a plan to destroy America,” Rubin wrote of the sign that read, in part, how the CBP One app “only verifies the information you previously provided to CBP and will not store the your information.”

I just took this photo.

This is the state of absolute insanity going on at our airports. I'm in the Pre-TSA line, where migrants don't have to have ID to get through security and it's their choice if they want to have their picture taken.

There is a plan to destroy America. pic.twitter.com/VQubxLgY9E

— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) January 18, 2024

The controversial app run by US Customs and Border Protection, which had been launched under the previous administration with expanded functionality under Biden, allowed foreigners to schedule appointments in advance to be inspected by the agency.

The service allows people to upload a photo in advance.

“Millions of Americans are subject to the TSA screening process, which is often time-consuming and burdensome, and includes photo identification. But every day, Americans shoulder this burden to increase the security of their fellow passengers,” Hawley continued. “Therefore, it makes no sense to give special privileges to illegal immigrants who should not even be allowed in the United States in the first place, let alone on board American airplanes. This is a symbol of the Biden Administration's prioritization of open border policies over the safety of Americans.”

CBP has argued that the aliens are not in the country illegally because they have been paroled for entering the U.S. illegally, and a TSA spokesman defended its security measures to Fox News.

“If a non-citizen opts out, as part of identity verification, TSA checks the face live against a photo taken by CBP upon encounter to ensure it's the same person,” the spokesperson said . claimed. “If the identity is confirmed, the non-citizen receives enhanced physical control of his person and property.”

“All persons without an acceptable form of identification go through a strict identity matching process and then undergo additional screening before they can continue on their flight. In addition, TSA denies boarding to all non-citizens who TSA cannot match government holdings,” his statement continued.

Meanwhile, a DHS spokesperson stated, “Recent reports that noncitizens have lower security bars for travel on domestic flights are false. Noncitizens without acceptable identification must undergo additional screening and more solid to fly to the United States.”

Hawley set a Feb. 15 deadline for an official TSA response to the allegations, as well as details on the number of foreigners who have opted not to be photographed and have been allowed to board commercial flights.” without presenting photo identification”.

Staff writer

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College, where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and seeker of truth, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and dog, and when he's not researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel ·the.

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