Op-Ed: Why I began a fly-cott

The TSA has imposed yet more restrictions on non-citizen travel into and out of the United States

Calling all fans of immigration: the Transportation Security Agency has decided all immigrants are potential terrorists—not the ones at the southern border, the ones flying domestically. Really, this isn’t about immigrants only. It’s about everyone. We’re all suspect; here’s why I’m saying farewell to the surveilled skies.

Real ID: the program was introduced 20 years ago, but the TSA is now cracking down. Don’t want to have official papers? Pay $45 and you’re on your way. Still think it’s about ‘security’?

Facial Recognition: the TSA decided facial recognition could nab the bad guys, even though not a single terrorist has been apprehended by the Theatre Security Transportation Security folks.

The agent I dealt with in 2024 did not seem to know that FR technology was optional. She was polite, as I asked, “So, my photo ID isn’t good enough?” What was I to do, forfeit an airline ticket? I closed my eyes for the picture; who knows how long that was—or is being—kept.

Political targets: because Covid measures were a military, not medical, response–not wearing a mask was deemed a ‘security risk’ by Biden administration officials.

This fact proves the TSA can be and already was easily weaponized against Americans – and I refuse to be subjected to that, under any administration.

DNA, etc. – now the TSA wants DNA – the TSA is only getting worse, treating every American guilty until proven innocent.

Here’s how you can join the Fly-cott.

• Use any other mode of domestic transport: car, taxi, bus, train.

• Write to the airline you frequently fly, and explain why you won’t be doing business.

• Write to the TSA, explaining why you’ll no longer tolerate their surveillance state.

• Last but not least – write your congressmen and women. Inform them, and if so moved, see if one of them will sponsor legislation to abolish the TSA.

Americans never needed what has truly become the “Transportation Surveillance Agency.”

Sally Finck is the managing editor of The CTL Tribune.