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TSA Confirms Illegal Immigrants Can Use Arrest Warrants As ID In Airports

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers walk through John F. Kennedy Airport on February 28, 2013 in New York City. Should the $85 billion in automatic federal budget cuts, known as the sequester, go into effect Friday as scheduled, airport control towers in a number of states could close, putting pilots and staff members at risk. In addition to the closed control towers, TSA workers could be furloughed, leading to long waits and confusion at many airport security checkpoints. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The Transportation Security Administration has confirmed that illegal immigrants flying without proper identification can use arrest warrants as an alternative form of ID.

According to the Daily Caller, after Texas Rep. Lance Gooden inquired about illegal migrants flying across the country in December, TSA Administrator David Pekoske explained “that certain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) documents may be considered acceptable forms of alternate identification for non-citizens, including a ‘Warrant for Arrest of Alien’ and a ‘Warrant of Removal/Deportation'”.

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“TSA’s response confirms the Biden Administration is knowingly putting our national security at risk,” Gooden told the Daily Caller. “Unknown and unvetted immigrants shouldn’t even be in the country, much less flying without proper identification”.

In a letter to Gooden, Pekoske wrote, “TSA is committed to ensuring that all travelers, regardless of immigration status, are pre-screened before they arrive to the airport, have their pre-screening status and identification verified at security checkpoints, and receive appropriate screening based on risk before entering the sterile area of the airport”.

The alien identification number found on a DHS document is processed through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection One mobile application or TSA’s National Transportation Vetting Center.

TSA “screens passengers through its Secure Flight program before they enter airport security and board a plane to check if they are on terrorist database and other watch lists,” reported the Daily Caller.

On Friday, TSA confirmed this information to Fox News. “For non-citizens and non-U.S. nationals who do not otherwise have acceptable forms of ID for presentation at security checkpoints, TSA may also accept certain DHS-issued forms, including ICE Form I-200 (Warrant for Arrest of an Alien),” a spokesperson said.

“All passengers whose identity is verified through alternate procedures receive additional screening before being allowed into the secure area of the airport,” the statement said, matching information from the Daily Caller.

Gooden has described the use of arrest warrants “totally crazy”. “A criminal alien shouldn’t be allowed to board a plane after presenting a warrant for their arrest,” he said. “They should be detained and brought before a judge”.