The Biden administration has been permitting undocumented immigrants to traverse the nation using only their arrest warrants as identification, a policy that has sparked controversy.
These warrants are issued when immigrants are apprehended for unlawful border crossings. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has confirmed to Fox News that this form of identification is indeed deemed sufficient.
In contrast, American citizens and legal travelers are required to present state or federally-issued identification when boarding aircraft within the United States. By 2025, the mandate will be tightened to necessitate "real IDs," which encapsulate more information than standard state-issued driver's licenses.
A TSA spokesperson informed 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)." This document is authenticated using an "alien identification number" cross-referenced with Customs and Border Protection databases.
The TSA further clarified, "All passengers whose identity is verified through alternate procedures receive additional screening before being allowed into the secure area of the airport."
During a Spaces event hosted by James O'Keefe and Ashley St. Clair, pilots disclosed that undocumented immigrants are not subjected to the same security screenings as other passengers. Some are even issued boarding passes labeled "no name given."
In essence, individuals who illegally cross the border are not held to the same legal standards as U.S. citizens when it comes to travel. Upon illegal entry and subsequent apprehension, these immigrants are assigned a court date several years in the future and then released into the U.S. They are often provided with shelter, housing, and can apply for work permits within a few months. Despite the Department of Homeland Security's assertion that most border crossers will not qualify to stay, they are permitted to establish lives in the U.S.
In 2022, the Biden administration proposed the "ICE Secure Docket Card program," an identification system for undocumented immigrants. This program would provide temporary ID cards and a legal form of identification for use during their immigration process towards permanent residency in the U.S. The pilot program was allocated a budget of $10 million.
The House Oversight Committee expressed concern at the time, stating, "According to a recent report, the Administration is planning to issue identification cards to individuals who illegally cross the southwest border and are released into the interior of the U.S. This pilot program, known as the ICE Secure Docket Card program, is intended in part to help illegal immigrants circumvent checking in physically at ICE offices and more easily access benefits within the United States. We are concerned that this pilot program is yet another Biden Administration move encouraging illegal immigration by rewarding illegal immigrants for breaking our laws."
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