Undocumented Immigrant Wants To Travel Within the United States

[EchoLawerence]

Hello,

I have a friend who is an illegal immigrant.
We live on the West Coast & would like to vacation to the East Coast.
To do this we'd like to take a plane.

He has a school ID, birth certificate from his native country (Mexico), & an ID from his consolate.

Are these documents sufficient for boarding a plane?

Does he need a Mexican passport to travel on the plane going from one side of this country to the other?

Is there a risk of him being deported by trying to board the plane?

Thanks for your time

[Mr. Knowitall]

It is my understanding that he's going to need a valid photo ID. Unfortunately, as strange as it may sound, part of the law governing what ID you need to fly is "secret", and I thus have no way of knowing the extent of the current law.

[mikenorm]

I am currently dating an illegal immigrant and would like to take her on a vacation. She has a valid mexican id, but because of her illegal status has no valid id from the US. Should I be concerned about her not being allowed on the plane with her mexican id? Any info you could give me would be appreciated. Thanks

[Mr. Knowitall]

Did you read the post above yours?

[mikenorm]

Yes, but when you put "valid photo ID", I didn't know if a photo ID from Mexico would be okay. I would hope that when I buy the tickets, the airline will assume that, although she isn't a citizen of the US, she is here legally, and will not ask for her social security # to perform a check with the social security office to make sure it is valid and matches her name.

[bidi]

If she is here legally and isn't a citizen, that's fine, she can fly. She will have to have her mexican passport and documentation showing her visa on hand with her. Internally they check to see the person isn't on their wanted list, they do not check for immigration. But after May things may change with new legislation coming out on ID's required for flying.