A NEW term has been designated for non-US citizens by the Transportation Security Administration.
TSA officials will now be required to refer to non-US citizens as “aliens” under a change made on Friday.
Before the addition of “alien” to TSA vocabulary, which was approved by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, agents called foreign visitors non-US citizens.
The added term aligns TSA’s regulatory language with statutory terms and definitions in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The Immigration and Nationality Act was enacted in 1952 and established the framework for legal entry into the US.
The act falls under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, which covers “Aliens and Nationality.”
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The term “alien” refers to a person who is not a US citizen.
Foreigners have been referred to as aliens consistently throughout Trump’s presidency.
The new change expands the president’s usage of the word, which he has frequently used in executive orders.
President Joe Biden attempted to reduce the number of times non-US citizens were referred to as “aliens” during his presidency.
To do so, he removed the word “alien” from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy manual.
Opponents to the updated TSA language argue that referring to a person as an alien is dehumanizing, according to the LA Times.
The change didn’t go through the standard notice-and-comment period as it “has no substantive effect on the regulatory requirements and places no stamp of approval or disapproval on any type of behavior,” according to the agency.
Acceptable identification at TSA checkpoints
All passengers 18 years and older must show valid identification at airport checkpoints in order to travel. The following is a full list of identification accepted at TSA checkpoints.
- Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
- Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the US, it must be REAL ID compliant. If you’re not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.
- A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
- US passport
- US passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- US Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
