New TSA Rule Creates Confusion Among Migrants and Advocacy Groups in Texas

The U.S. government has implemented a new policy requiring migrants without passports to undergo facial recognition technology for domestic flight boarding. This change has sparked confusion among both immigrants and advocacy organisations, particularly in South Texas. Many migrants, including those who had used the online appointment system for immigration matters, reported difficulties at the airport when attempting to board flights this week.

The exact start date of the new rule is unclear, but numerous migrants in South Texas on Tuesday expressed frustration after being turned away from airports. Some of these individuals had been released by Border Patrol to continue their immigration cases. Advocacy groups are also concerned about the potential impact on migrants who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully and are awaiting processing.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), migrants lacking proper photo identification will now need to submit to facial recognition technology. This process will use Department of Homeland Security (DHS) records to verify their identities. If TSA cannot match their details to DHS records, they will be denied access to secure areas of the airport and will not be allowed to board their flights.

While TSA has not specified when this policy was introduced, they clarified that it was a recent change, not a reaction to a particular security threat.

The full extent of how many migrants will be affected is still unknown, as some have foreign passports. However, this new requirement could pose significant challenges for migrants who rely on airlines to travel to cities where they have family and friends, or where Border Patrol has instructed them to go for their immigration processes.

For many migrants, the change caught them by surprise, leading to uncertainty about the future of their travel plans and the potential loss of nonrefundable flight tickets. One group of migrants, recently turned away at a Texas airport, returned to a shelter in McAllen in confusion, prompting advocates to scramble to understand the new TSA protocols.

“The confusion caused a great deal of distress for these individuals,” said the Rev. Brian Strassburger, executive director of Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries, a Texas-based organisation providing aid and advocacy for migrants. Strassburger noted that in the past, migrants were able to board flights using documents provided by Border Patrol.

Despite the uncertainty, one Ecuadorian mother travelling with her child managed to board a flight on Wednesday after consenting to a facial scan at the TSA checkpoint.