Englishmum

It now seems that the TSA is now 'expanding' its screening of passengers before they arrive at US airports (for domestic and international flights) by such means as checking passengers employment history, property records, car registration, tax ID no, previous travel itineraries, physical characteristics etc:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/bu...xJ5RH6F5+TIMpQ

(There are 2 pages....the readers comments are interesting too...)

For what it's worth, I think few Americans have any idea that all non-US citizens (even Green Card holders) have their fingerprints taken every single time they arrive at a POE (port of entry) in the USA, irregardless of how many times they've previously arrived on US soil.

Pulaski

Sorry, but I don't see what the problem is. People lie, documents can be forged or altered, but a country, any country, has the right to know who is entering and for what purpose. The fingerprinting process on arrival in the US is not a cost, time, or health/safety inconvenience for the traveller, so what is your problem?

sir_eccles

You do realize these extra checks are for all flights, not just international. The TSA is essentially accessing the NSA domestic spying database every time you try to fly.

As for the fingerprints on international arrivals, the point was the average american doesn't realize half of the things that go on.

Pulaski

Yes, same point. What's the problem? No cost, no inconvenience, no health/ safety issue, just proves who you actually are. If you don't like it, don't fly!

sir_eccles

There would be no problem at all if it actually made me safer. The biggest security holes are not the passengers. Every week there is another news story about thieving TSA agents or baggage handlers, disgruntled service staff planting bombs, test items going past screeners, etc etc.

MidAtlantic

I'm with Pulaski on this one. After all 9/11 involved domestic flights.

Air-side security needs to be improved too, but that is a separate issue and does not detract from using all possible resources to ensure that passengers are properly vetted.

Pulaski

Right, the issue on 9/11 was not a baggage issue, nor was the shoe bomber. I am more concerned these days with my fellow passengers than the luggage. That said, I agree with MidAtlantic too, that baggage security should also be tightened, but it is a separate issue.

Mallory

Why worry? You are an American now.

Bob

If only anyone could rely on the TSA in the first place :/

Pulaski

It's all we've got!

Sally Redux

The whole country will just simply seize up due to bureaucracy soon.

Pulaski

But that's pretty much the opposite of my first post on this thread, that airport ID checking procedures at immigration are quick, easy, and have no cost to the passenger.

markonline1

Of course, the fingerprinting has nothing to do with flight safety as you've already flown by the time you have them taken LOL. Having worked in airport security for 7 years at Heathrow, it's not just the TSA that needs to buck their ideas up. I can see why it's done, but I must admit, I hate having my finger prints taken when I arrive at the immigration hall. Thought that would all stop when I became a green card holder. Oh well.

jeffreyhy

True, but then the fingerprinting you refer to is not a TSA airport security function - it's a CBP function with a view toward internal security, as you seem to recognize.

Regards, JEff

Sally Redux

Why does it need to be re-done every time?