English/ Español: Rubio Introduces Secure Flights Act to Prevent Illegal Immigrants From Using Arrest Warrants as TSA ID

Statement

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) led Republican colleagues in introducing the Strengthening Enforcement to Curtail Unlawful, Risky Entrance to Flights Act, or SECURE Flights Act of 2022 (S.3602), to prevent the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) from allowing illegal aliens to use immigration enforcement documents, such as arrest warrants, as identification when boarding commercial flights. Rubio announced this legislation in late January, along with Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX), who introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rubio also released a video message on the bill's introduction.

Specifically, the Secure Flights Act would clarify that DHS-issued documents, such as arrest or deportation warrants, are not valid for commercial airline travel. Further, if a traveler presents one of those documents, the bill requires the TSA agent to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and local law enforcement to determine whether the individual is in violation of any terms of release. If the individual is found to be in violation, he or she will not be allowed to fly, with an exception if the individual is traveling for purposes of self-deportation.

U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Rounds (R-IN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Jim Risch (R-ID) are cosponsors of the bill.

"The rule of law went out the window when the Biden Administration took office," Rubio said. "It is dangerous and deranged to allow illegal immigrants to use arrest warrants to board commercial flights and travel throughout our country."

"It is outrageous that TSA is allowing illegal immigrants to use ICE arrest warrants as identification to board airplanes. It shouldn't be happening." Tillis said. "Last week, I demanded answers from DHS on this practice, and I am proud to join this effort to stop allowing illegal immigrants from using ICE arrest warrants to fly across the country."

"Illegal aliens should not be able to use their arrest warrants as ID to get on planes," Braun said. "I can't believe I just had to write that."

"The Biden administration's open-border policies and incompetence continue to produce outrageous results," Boozman said. "Americans are right to be shocked by reports of illegal immigrants boarding airplanes using arrest warrants as proof of their identities. Our bill puts an end to this absurd practice, prioritizes safety and stands up for the rule of law."

"At a time when unprecedented levels of illegal immigration and drastically reduced deportations have created a national security and humanitarian disaster within our country, it's irrational to allow illegal aliens to use immigration arrest warrants or deportation orders to board commercial airlines and freely travel around the country," Hagerty said. "There should be no objection to expressly prohibiting this senseless process that only encourages more illegal immigration."

"The fact the Biden administration is allowing illegal aliens to use arrest warrants as a form of identification to fly on a plane is insane, plain and simple," Cruz said. "I'm proud to cosponsor the SECURE Flights Act to put an end to this ridiculous policy."

"It really isn't complicated: those who are in the United States illegally should not be allowed to use their arrest warrants as forms of identification to fly around our country on commercial airlines," Capito said. "In the midst of a rising crime wave and an ongoing crisis at our southern border, we must do more to crack down on illegal immigration, not less. This commonsense bill would reverse TSA's inexplicable policy, prioritize the rule of law, and take steps to actually address the consequences of the administration's self-inflicted illegal immigration crisis."

"Arrest warrants or notices to appear before an immigration judge should not be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration as a valid form of identification to travel on U.S. commercial flights," Crapo said. "We must have safeguards in place to further ensure the sanctity of our immigration laws and safety of law-abiding travelers and airline crew."

"Under the Biden administration, illegal immigrants can present an arrest warrant as a valid form of ID to board a plane," Risch said. "There is no question this policy tramples U.S. immigration law and threatens our national security. The Department of Homeland Security needs to reverse course now and put the safety and security of Idahoans and all Americans first."

"An illegal immigrant who commits a crime should be arrested and brought before a judge," Gooden said. "The Biden Administration is instead putting our national security and American families at risk by allowing them to fly on U.S. airlines."