Dear mylesie-ga,
You are required to present citizenship status papers when passing
through immigration, which happens only upon entering the country on
an international flight.
However, if there is reasonable suspicion that someone is an illegal
alien, law enforcement can stop you until your status is verified.
The following except describes how an immigration official can legally
perform a "detentive stop":
"When an immigration officer has reason to suspect that a person is
undocumented, the person can be stopped for questioning so that the
agent can try to find out whether the person actually is undocumented.
This kind of brief stop for questioning is usually called a "detentive
stop," and, in most areas of the country, requires a "reasonable
suspicion" that the person is an alien illegally in the U.S. Only a
very short period of questioning is allowed during a detentive stop.
(5) The person is not free to walk away, but can only be stopped for a
very short time unless the agent finds "probable cause" to believe the
person is undocumented. Then the agent may arrest the person."
http://www.ilrc.org/unit19.html
The information available (your name) to the airlines when you buy a
ticket for an interstate flight is not sufficient to identify someone
as a legal or illegal resident. How many "Jesus Gonzalezes" are
there? INS would have no way of knowing from your name if you are
citizen Jesus Gonzalez or illegal alien Jesus Gonzalez.
However, since 9/11 all airports have increased security and are more
sensitive to stopping illegal aliens in the name of terrorism.
Travelers are now subject to random and profile based searches. If
the illegal alien is unlucky enough to be put under the microscope and
security runs a background check, they might get caught. Considering
this, though the risk may be small on an interstate flight, a bus or
train ride is probably the least risky way for an illegal alien to
travel. If the illegal alien chose to take an interstate flight,
smaller airports would have lower security and a smaller INS presence
than would international airports.
Since 9/11, illegal aliens must also deal with alert citizens as well
as official security. One citizen group is reported to patrol
airports for illegal immigrants, reporting them to the police.
For articles about immigration enforcement and news tracking of
immigration issues:
http://www.americanpatrol.com/
The Immigratant Legal Resource Center:
http://www.ilrc.org/
Sincerely,
sweetcaro333-ga |
