U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, has penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing concerns over the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) alleged practice of allowing undocumented immigrants to fly within the United States using an alternate identity verification process. This process is said to rely on the CBP One app, potentially enabling the use of fabricated IDs.
In his letter, Cruz states, "While Americans must present an acceptable form of identification to fly, or at least have their identities confirmed, TSA is permitting illegal aliens without ID to opt for an alternate identity verification process utilizing the…’CBP One’ app." The senator has been serving in the U.S. Senate since 2012 and has previously clerked in the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (1995) and for Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
Cruz further elaborates on his concerns about the TSA's procedures for verifying travelers' identities. He argues that there seems to be a discrepancy between how American citizens and undocumented immigrants are treated. In his letter, he writes, "In effect, TSA is applying one standard for verifying the identities of American citizens, and another, weaker standard for ‘verifying’ the identities of illegal aliens."
According to Fox News reports, migrants are using the CPB One app to enter the United States at border crossings and continue their journey at airports by uploading their identification documents through this application. However, Cruz raises concerns that TSA might be allowing these migrants to travel without adequately verifying this information or properly tracking certain migrants with criminal backgrounds.
Cruz's letter also highlights potential issues with how identification is verified through the CBP One app when traditional forms of identification are not available. He writes: "The CBP One app allows an alien traveling to the U.S. to submit biometric and biographic information—including a live facial photograph, name, and date of birth—to CBP in advance of arrival at certain ports of entry. Once the alien arrives at the port of entry, if he does not have a passport or other way to prove his identity, CBP will routinely parole the person into the U.S. under the self-provided name and date of birth." Cruz suggests that TSA is relying on this self-provided information as verifiable.
