On 7/22/2022, during the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske’s confirmation hearing (Pekoske is the current TSA administrator, Joe Biden re-nominated Pekoske to serve a second 5-year term), Republican Senator Josh Hawley asked Pekoske about a TSA policy that allows illegal immigrants to use warrants as an alternative form of identification. “How many individuals have presented TSA with arrest warrants or deportation notices and been allowed to travel this calendar year?” Hawley asked. “Under 1,000 sir,” Pekoske replied. Hawley had written to Pekoske earlier this year about the policy, Pekoske never responded to his inquiry, which he called “unacceptable”. Pekoske said he would be receiving one tomorrow after the confirmation hearing.

Pekoske said that the presentation of a warrant marked the beginning of a further verification process. “These individuals who have these arrest warrants, these arrest warrants were issued by Border Patrol or a customs officer, and they serve as a beginning of our identity verification process so you can’t walk up to a checkpoint, wave that form and then go right through into screening,” he said. While Pekoske said those use who warrants as ID also received enhanced screening, Hawley asked if they were given an in-person interview by a federal security director — to which Pekoske said they were only interviewed by officers present at the checkpoint. Hawley asked Pekoske for a reason for disregarding one’s legal status when screening migrants through TSA. “We aren’t looking at whether a person is legal or illegal in the country,” Pekoske said. “Our role is to make sure that people who may pose a risk to transportation that is significant enough to require enhanced screening or to not allow them to fly.”

“So your position is someone who is known to have violated the laws of the United States does not thereby need enhanced screening?” Hawley asked. “Sir, there are people who violate the laws of the United States every day who fly,” Pekoske responded. “We look for things related to transportation security.” Pekoske said, “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.” Hawley chided Pekoske, “And you don’t think someone who is, by definition, somebody who presents a warrant for arrest. You don’t think that that necessitates enhanced screening?”

Hawley said, “I think you’re going to have a hard time explaining to folks who wait for all of this time in these lines, who subject themselves voluntarily to the restrictions you imposed that you’re allowing illegal aliens with warrants for arrest to get on airplanes.” “I just find that totally extraordinary,” he said.

Since President Biden took office his lax immigration enforcement has contributed to a crisis on America’s southern border.

https://facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/1394326134368191
Totally extraordinary, TSA admitted under 1000 Immigration warrants used as airport ID. But TSA long lines for others