American travellers are outraged after signs at US airports seemingly permit migrants to board flights without proper identification.
While US citizens are required to show a valid ID or passport for domestic travel, the signs indicate that the rules are different for newly arrived migrants.
The signs imply that the Transport Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are working together to “validate adult non-US citizen travel documentation when the traveller does not otherwise have an acceptable form of identification.”
Migrants can use CBP’s One app to enter the country, as it can double as a travel document.
US travellers have been left furious after signs suggest rules for airports have been relaxed for migrants
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They must notify the TSA officer that they are an asylum seeker and they have the choice to have their photo taken or not.
Retired CBP Chief Patrol Agent Chris Clem said that the rules present bad optics.
He said he finds it offensive that migrants are being favoured while taxpayers are facing mounting costs.
“I’m an American citizen and I’m quite offended that these migrants that have come in here are getting preferential treatment and being prioritised in so many ways,” he told the New York Post.
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Migrants have the option whether to have their photo taken
“The rest of us are paying the price at gas pump and grocery stores. Tax is going up. Yet [the US is] continuing to bring masses of people [in].
“[The Biden Administration’s mentality is] to try and make it the most humane and pleasurable experience for these poor people under distress because it is such a tough ordeal to navigate an American airport…but you’ve gotta be kidding me, many of them just came from Middle East, traversed seven countries, used apps to get here, and we’re supposed to believe Phoenix Airport might be all to much for them …ridiculous!”
Critics have argued that the app raises questions about the legitimacy of the vetting process.
Those who enter the US via the app – approximately 45,000 a month – have to give over biometric information such as fingerprints before being allowed to enter the country.
However, Clem has cast doubts about the validity of this information.
“We’re basing it all off what this person is telling us and a minimum system of information,” he said.
“Do we really know who they are? Did they use the app or did a smuggler do it all for them?
Migrants walk toward the US border in Arriaga, Chiapas state, Mexico
Reuters“If you’re a known criminal, the likelihood of you giving the same name when coming into another country is pretty low unless you’re a dumb criminal.
“There are so many questions we don’t have answers to be concerned about.”
The CBP has stated that the vetting process is conducted using biographic and biometric data and that those who are paroled have already given a photo, Fox News reports.
Senator Ted Cruz raised concerns about the screening process, emphasising the apparent unfair treatment of US citizens in comparison to migrants.
“While Americans must present an acceptable form of identification to fly, or at least have their identities confirmed, TSA is permitting illegal aliens without ID to opt for an alternate identity verification process utilizing the…’CBP One’ app.”
Writing in a letter, Cruz said: “In effect, TSA is applying one standard for verifying the identities of American citizens, and another, weaker standard for ‘verifying’ the identities of illegal aliens. This is alarming.”