Biggs, Babin, Gaetz, Cloud, Roy, Gosar, Duncan and Hice Send Letter to DHS

June 7, 2019
Press Release

GILBERT, ARIZONA – Today, Congressman Biggs and his colleagues sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security to address recent reports that illegal aliens are being transported around the country without travel identification required for air travel. Representatives Babin, Gaetz, Cloud, Roy, Gosar, Duncan, and Hice joined the letter to Acting Secretary McAleenan.

Read the text of the letter below:

June 7, 2019

The Honorable Kevin McAleenan
Acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Dear Secretary McAleenan,

Recent news reports and stories some of us have received from traveling constituents have raised questions regarding the use of commercial airlines to transport illegal aliens around the country. News reports have indicated that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been allowing migrants to board flights using a Form I-862, Notice to Appear, which informs a released alien of when to appear in court and is not one of the 15 forms of identification TSA accepts for air travel. Some of us have heard additional, unverified stories of groups of aliens being allowed to bypass TSA screening altogether and board flights prior to both the traveling public and federal law enforcement, the latter of whom are normally allowed to board first.

The safety and security of the American public should always be our priority. We are therefore respectfully requesting information relating to Department guidelines for the use of commercial air travel to transport aliens.

  1. When aliens are being transported by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), where are they typically being transported to? To a detention facility, to their sponsor, etc.?
  2. Who is funding the air travel? If the federal government, how much was spent in fiscal year 2018 and how much has been spent in fiscal year 2019?
  3. What health screenings are aliens required to undergo prior to boarding a plane to ensure they are not putting other passengers at risk? Who verifies that the screenings have taken place and where is that information logged?
  4. What form of identification are aliens required to produce prior to boarding a plane? For aliens who are apprehended without any form of government-issued identification, how is their identity verified by ICE and/or TSA prior to boarding? Are they permitted to use only a Form I-862, Notice to Appear? What officials at ICE and/or TSA verify that proper identification has been provided?
  5. Are aliens who are not traveling in ICE custody permitted to use a Form I-862 or any other form of identification that is not among the 15 acceptable forms identified by TSA?
  6. Are groups of traveling aliens required to undergo the same TSA screenings, including x-rays or full body scans and search of baggage, as all other travelers? What officials at ICE and/or TSA verify that proper screening has taken place?
  7. Are aliens accompanied by federal law enforcement on flights?
  8. Are airlines made aware of aliens traveling on their flights?

Thank you again for providing this information. We respectfully request that you respond to these questions by June 21, 2019. We look forward to working with you to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

Sincerely,

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