Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has raised concerns about a new development in how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is screening air travelers. According to Cruz, terrorists may exploit the simple screening methods of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide emergency identification for migrants.
Senator Cruz claims that U.S. Customs is now allowing illegal migrants without a valid I.D. to board planes using the CBP One mobile application. The Senator is concerned that verifying flight passengers with only a mobile app may constitute national security threats.
Terrorists, cartel members, or even human traffickers are constantly looking for loopholes to exploit in security architectures. So, Cruz believed this was one of such loopholes. All an illegal immigrant has to do is provide a string of personal information, which might be fictitious, and obtain a temporary I.D.
To make the issue a bit scary, the Department of Home Security (DHS) is the one to issue temporary I.D.s for migrants. So, if the screening of such aliens before flight boarding, using the CBP One app verification alone, they can adopt an entirely different identity. For example, all the immigrant needs to do is supply a set of names and take a live photo with the CBP One app.
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In fact, Cruz believes that miscreants may enter the U.S. solely for the temporary I.D. They may apply via the CBP One app, obtain the DHS ID, and fly out of the U.S. after using it as a boarding pass.
Even if the CBP One app method of screening migrants is foolproof, Cruz thinks it is unfair to American citizens. He feels citizens get subjected to multiple checks at the airport compared to simple verifications of migrant travelers. Basically, the TSA is using a double standard to screen airport passengers.
Senator Cruz sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorka, Secretary of the DHS, last week to express his grievances officially.
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However, the DHS recently issued a statement responding to Senator Cruz’s allegations. According to their spokesperson, the DHS is committed to ensuring maximal security at all U.S. borders. Their sole goal is to ensure the security integrity of the United States. By implication, the DHS prevents all forms of security threats and risks from entering the country’s borders.
During an interview with a media outlet, a TSA spokesperson mentioned that multiple identification processes are used to check U.S. citizens and migrants. This is a prerequisite requirement for letting passengers into any U.S. airport’s secure area.
So, the TSA is clarifying that it is impossible for migrants who pose security threats to gain access to an airport’s secure area. However, if they find anyone, citizen or alien, who poses a security or national threat, such would be handed over to the DHS.
So far, Republicans like Senator Cruz have made it their responsibility to call attention to any ripple effect of the ‘slack’ immigration policies of the Biden administration. According to them, the weak migration policies are causing an overwhelming influx of asylum seekers through the southern state borders.
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