Parent flying with me...?
 

Hi y'all!

I have a question...well...really my mom is making me ask.

I am flying out to Philadelphia from San Antonio in October and my mom wanted to go with me. While I at least have my Texas DL because of DACA, my mom is undocumented. She has a Mexican passport that she got from the Mexican Consulate ( no visa) here in SA.

She is convinced that ICE will stop her once she lands in Philly...I have heard of people flying with their passports without issues...

While she is convinced that ICE loiters outside of all the gates to check everyones ID once you get off a plane, I told her that should only be true about international flights. But I haven't flown since 2005 (when I was in HS)...so I don't know how much things have changed...

she just wants to know if anyone has experience with flying within the US only using a Mexican passport without a visa. perhaps specifically SA and Philadelphia?

Anything will help!

thanks!

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

Many people fly with just their passport, that's an acceptable ID accepted by the TSA. They're the ones that you have to show documentation to, not ICE.

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

Wouldn't risk it man, ive also heard people having no issues, but it could be a wrong place, wrong time situation.

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

Especially flying from Texas.

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

Exactly haha.

I wouldn't risk my mom, only if it was like an emergency that someone is dying, but if its only for vacation or the heck off it, it ain't worth it.

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

The issue isn't necessarily "ICE",but CBP.San Antonio is designated as International airport and one very close to the Mexican border so can understand her concerns.

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

thanks y'all.

I'm flying for an interview in Philly and a conference in Boston and of course my mom wanted to go.

I am actually thinking of testing it out. Going to the Mexican Consulate and getting a passport and using that as ID when I fly.

She isn't super afraid, but we will make some calls since all the answers are 50/50....perhaps we will fly out of austin.

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

You have nothing to worry about! Seriously, I can't tell you the number of times I flew using my Brazilian passport before DACA. At first I used my passport that contained my EXPIRED VISA.. Then later, just my new passport with nothing inside.
TSA will be the ones checking people's ID before security checkpoint and they could care less about us. All they want to know is that you are really the owner of the boarding pass so they simply only check the identity part. Even when I took an international flight (from Miami to Brazil under Advance Parole) the TSA officer at security checkpoint didn't look inside my passport. In fact, only the airline employee assisting with boarding asked to see, or rather, glance at it (which is interesting because they never asked for i94 and there's absolutely no record of me leaving the country!).
Anyway, I digress. Tell your mom not to worry. I am 100% certain she will be fine!

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

I don't think you've ever been to Texas.

Re: Parent flying with me...?
 

Actually, I lived in TX for 1o out of the 12 years I've been in this country. 98% of the times I flew in my whole life (and Ive flown a lot) were either to or from DFW. I've also passed through the Austin, Houston and Amarillo airports. So yeah, I'm very familiar with TX, its airports and what it's like being undocumented there and I stand my ground: You are completely safe flying domestically with a (valid) foreign passport.