According to federal authorities, a man allegedly managed to slip through security at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and board an international flight to Paris without a valid ticket, setting off a chain of events that raised serious questions about airport safety.
The incident unfolded on Sunday, when Qais Ahmad Tillawi allegedly showed up at the airport claiming he had a boarding pass for Air France Flight 69. The plane was scheduled to depart for Paris around 3:50 p.m. that day, and at first glance, nothing seemed wildly out of place. But behind the scenes, red flags were already stacking up.
An FBI affidavit uncovered by multiple media outlets said Tillawi purchased a boarding pass online around 2:00 p.m. and checked in just a couple minutes later, only for the airline to cancel the pass at 2:19 p.m. due to what they described as an “unauthorized credit card.”
What happened next is deeply unsettling. Around 2:37 p.m., Tillawi allegedly arrived at the airport in a rental car, left it abandoned at the curb, tossed two (?!) jackets into a trash can, and headed straight for the security checkpoint at TSA. Despite the canceled ticket, he allegedly made it through security and into the sterile area of the airport just before 3:00 p.m. Yes, really.
By the time he reached the gate, at least one customer reportedly noticed something was off and described his behavior as suspicious, per People. Still, he somehow made it onto the jet bridge. When an Air France employee tried to verify his boarding credentials, the system flagged his pass as invalid. But Tillawi allegedly refused to hand over his passport or any other documents, showing it only from a distance and then holding it unnecessarily close to the agent’s face before being waved through.
Somehow, he got on the plane — and once there, things quickly escalated. Instead of taking a seat, Tillawi allegedly paced through the economy cabin and refused to speak with flight attendants or the captain. He also would not provide his name.
According to the affidavit:
“Out of concern for the aircraft and the passengers, the captain ordered Tillawi to disembark the aircraft. Tillawi refused, without a verbal response, and typed on his phone, ‘Send the USA marshal.’”
At that point, the captain made the call to involve law enforcement. Passengers were de-boarded, and Phoenix cops eventually escorted Tillawi off the aircraft. The FBI then took over the investigation.
What authorities allegedly found at that point only added to the alarm. Agents say Tillawi was carrying around 20 credit cards, seven driver’s licenses from California and Arizona, a US passport, a Jordanian passport, a Jordanian military service book, and what appeared to be fake employment badges from major institutions including Deloitte, IBM, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sorry, WHAT?!
Tillawi now faces federal charges for interfering with a flight crew and entering a secured airport area without authorization.
But the story doesn’t end there. According to the affidavit, agents also spoke with his brother, who claimed Tillawi had attended Arizona State University, spoke fluent English, and had been fired from PricewaterhouseCoopers back in 2024.
The brother also alleged Tillawi struggles with drug addiction and has been diagnosed with psychosis — and that he was previously detained in Dubai for suspicious behavior and temporarily committed for mental health treatment. Wow.
Let’s just hope he gets the help he needs — and that cops get to the bottom of whatever the heck is going on.
A new fee for travelers without REAL ID starts soon. Here’s what to know about the changes ahead and what to do if you don’t have a REAL ID. In December, the Transportation Security Administration announced that passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly will have an option to pay a $45 fee.When will the TSA start charging the $45 fee?According to the TSA, the use of TSA Confirm.ID and a $45 fee to use this identity verification will begin on Feb. 1. The fee only applies to travelers without an acceptable form of ID.Why is the TSA charging this fee, and what does it cover? According to TSA officials, the fee “ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs.” The $45 fee allows passengers without accepted ID to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period.What is TSA Confirm.ID and do I have to use it?TSA ConfirmID is an identity verification system that will establish passengers’ identities at security checkpoints.While using TSA ConfirmID is voluntary, TSA officials say that if you choose not to use it and don’t have an acceptable ID, you may not be allowed through security and could miss your flight.Can I pay the fee online before I travel?Yes. The TSA has a step-by-step guide to pay the $45 fee online here.If I don’t have a REAL ID or don’t pay the $45 fee ahead of time, how long will it take to get through security?According to a recent news release from the TSA, travelers without REAL IDs that use TSA ConfirmID at the airport “will be subject to additional ID verification, screening measures and potential delays.””Travelers who appear at the TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID and have not already paid the TSA ConfirmID fee will be subject to additional delays which may result in a missed flight,” the TSA release says. “It is important that airline travelers plan ahead to ensure they have an acceptable form of ID to avoid these additional delays as the process can take up to 30 minutes.” TSA officials urge any traveler without REAL ID or acceptable identification to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers arriving at the airport without paying the fee in advance, there will be information about how to pay at marked locations at or near the security checkpoint in most airports. What are the acceptable uses of ID?Acceptable forms of ID include:REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)U.S. passportU.S. passport cardDHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependentsPermanent resident cardBorder crossing cardAn acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)HSPD-12 PIV cardForeign government-issued passportCanadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cardTransportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)U.S. Merchant Mariner CredentialVeteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)How do I get a REAL ID?Each state handles the REAL ID process differently. You should visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required, but at a minimum, you’ll need to provide documentation showing your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal residence and lawful status.Some states may have additional requirements, so check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website before visiting them in person for additional guidance and assistance.
A new fee for travelers without REAL ID starts soon. Here’s what to know about the changes ahead and what to do if you don’t have a REAL ID.
In December, the Transportation Security Administration announced that passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly will have an option to pay a $45 fee.
When will the TSA start charging the $45 fee?
According to the TSA, the use of TSA Confirm.ID and a $45 fee to use this identity verification will begin on Feb. 1. The fee only applies to travelers without an acceptable form of ID.
Why is the TSA charging this fee, and what does it cover?
According to TSA officials, the fee “ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs.”
The $45 fee allows passengers without accepted ID to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period.
What is TSA Confirm.ID and do I have to use it?
TSA ConfirmID is an identity verification system that will establish passengers’ identities at security checkpoints.
While using TSA ConfirmID is voluntary, TSA officials say that if you choose not to use it and don’t have an acceptable ID, you may not be allowed through security and could miss your flight.
Can I pay the fee online before I travel?
Yes. The TSA has a step-by-step guide to pay the $45 fee online here.
If I don’t have a REAL ID or don’t pay the $45 fee ahead of time, how long will it take to get through security?
According to a recent news release from the TSA, travelers without REAL IDs that use TSA ConfirmID at the airport “will be subject to additional ID verification, screening measures and potential delays.”
“Travelers who appear at the TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID and have not already paid the TSA ConfirmID fee will be subject to additional delays which may result in a missed flight,” the TSA release says. “It is important that airline travelers plan ahead to ensure they have an acceptable form of ID to avoid these additional delays as the process can take up to 30 minutes.”
TSA officials urge any traveler without REAL ID or acceptable identification to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers arriving at the airport without paying the fee in advance, there will be information about how to pay at marked locations at or near the security checkpoint in most airports.
What are the acceptable uses of ID?
Acceptable forms of ID include:
REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
How do I get a REAL ID?
Each state handles the REAL ID process differently. You should visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required, but at a minimum, you’ll need to provide documentation showing your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal residence and lawful status.
Some states may have additional requirements, so check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website before visiting them in person for additional guidance and assistance.
On an overcast morning in September, Hector Alessandro Negrete left his beloved Los Angeles — the city he was brought to at 3 months old — and headed down Interstate 5 to Mexico, the only country where he held a passport.
It was a place that, to him, had “always felt like both a wound and a possibility.”
Negrete, 43, sat in the passenger seat as a friend steered the car south and two more friends in another car followed. He had condensed his life to three full suitcases and his dachshund mix, Lorca.
They pulled over at the beach in San Clemente. Angel Martinez, his soon-to-be former roommate, is deeply spiritual, and his favorite prayer spot is the ocean, so he prayed that Negrete would be blessed and protected — and Lorca too — as they began a new stage in their lives.
On the near-empty beach, the friends embraced and wiped away tears. Martinez handed Negrete a small watermelon.
As instructed, Negrete walked to the edge of the water, said his own prayer and, as a gift of thanks to the cosmos, plopped it into a crashing wave.
Negrete, holding a drink, embraces his friend Angel Martinez as they visit a drag club in Tijuana after leaving Los Angeles a day earlier.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Negrete doesn’t call it self-deportation.
“Self-repatriation,” he said. “I refuse to use this administration’s language.”
President Trump had been in office just over a month when Negrete decided he would return to Mexico. Methodical by nature, he approached the decision like any other — by researching, organizing and planning.
He registered Lorca as an emotional support animal, paid for a vaccine card and a certificate of good health, and crate-trained her in a TSA-approved carrier.
He announced his decision to leave in June on his Substack newsletter: “If you’re thinking, ‘Alessandro’s giving up,’ look deeper. I am choosing freedom. For the first time, I feel unshackled from the expectations of waiting.”
Negrete walks the streets of Boyle Heights while shopping for moving supplies after deciding he would leave the U.S. on his own terms.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Negrete had grown tired of wishing for immigration reform. He had built his career advocating for immigrants such as himself, including stints as statewide coordinator for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or MALDEF, and as executive director for the California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance.
He said his work had helped legalize street vending in Los Angeles and he assisted the office of then-California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris in securing the release of a young woman from immigration detention. He was the first openly undocumented and LGBTQ+ person on the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council.
Under previous administrations, Negrete’s political work had felt like a shield against deportation. Even during Trump’s first term, Negrete had marched at rallies denouncing his immigration policies.
But that was before the new Immigration and Customs Enforcement patrols that tore into Southern California during Trump’s second term. On June 6, as anti-ICE protesters took to the streets, Negrete rushed to downtown Los Angeles when fellow activists told him street medics were needed.
“One of my homies said, ‘Hey fool, what are you doing here?’” he recalled. Seeing Los Angeles police officers advancing on the crowd, he realized that no amount of public support could protect him.
He fled. “Thank God I left.”
Negrete, in red, with his friends and colleagues at a farewell party and yard sale in August.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
In mid-August, Negrete hosted a yard sale and going away party. The flier was tongue-in-cheek: “Everything must go! Including me!”
His red T-shirt stated plainly, “I AM UNDOCUMENTED,” and his aviator sunglasses hid the occasional tears. Tattoos dotted his extremities, including an anchor on his right leg with the words “I refuse to sink.”
“I think it hit me when I started packing my stuff today,” he told a former colleague, Shruti Garg, who had arrived early.
“But the way you’ve invited everyone to join you is so beautiful,” she replied.
One table held American pop-culture knickknacks — sippy cups with Ghostface from the movie “Scream,” collectible Mickey Mouse ears, a Detective Batman purse shaped like a comic book, another purse shaped like the locker from the ‘90s cartoon “Daria.”
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Negrete said the items reminded him of his youth and represented the gothic, quirky aspects of his personality.
“I was born in Mexico, but I don’t know Mexico,” he said. “So I’m leaving the American parts of me that are no longer going to serve me.”
The back yard slowly filled with loved ones from Negrete’s various social circles. There was his mostly queer softball team — the Peacocks — his running group, his chosen family and his blood family.
Negrete’s close friend Joel Menjivar looked solemn.
“I’m scared it’s going to start a movement,” he said. “Undocumented or DACA friends who are talented and integral to the fabric of L.A. might get ideas to leave.”
Another friend, Mario Mariscal, said he took Negrete’s decision the hardest, though at first he didn’t believe Negrete was serious. More than once he asked, “You really want to give up everything you’ve built here for a new start in Mexico?”
Eventually, Negrete had to tell Mariscal that his questions weren’t helpful. During a deeper conversation about his decision, Negrete shared that he was tired of living with the constant fear of getting picked up, herded into an unmarked van and taken away.
“I just kept telling him, ‘That’s not going to happen to you,’” Mariscal said. “But the more this administration keeps doing it, the more it’s in our face, the more we’re seeing every horror story about that, it became clear that, you know what, you do have a point. You do have to do what’s right for you.”
Negrete continues packing for his move to Mexico as roommate Martinez works at their Boyle Heights home.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Negrete is cognizant of the privilege that makes his departure different from that of many other immigrants. He is white-passing, fluent in Spanish and English, and moved with $10,000 in savings.
In June, he was hired as executive director of a U.S.-based nonprofit, Old School Hub, that works to combat ageism around the world. The role allowed him to live wherever he wanted.
He decided to settle in Guadalajara, a growing technology hub, with historic buildings featuring Gothic architecture that he found beautiful. It also helped that Guadalajara has one of the country’s most vibrant LGBTQ+ scenes and is a four-hour drive from Puerto Vallarta, a renowned queer resort destination.
As Negrete began his new job while still in L.A., he picked a moving date — Sept. 4 — and booked a two-week Airbnb near the baseball stadium.
That Guadalajara’s team, the Charros de Jalisco, wore Dodger blue felt like a good omen.
On the day he left the United States, Negrete and Martinez hold a prayer at the beach in San Clemente in which Negrete offers thanks to the universe with an offering of a watermelon.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
On the drive toward the border, messages poured into Negrete’s phone.
“I’m sending you all my love Alessandro,” one read. “Cuídate. [Take care.] Know that even though you’re far away from home, you carry us with you.”
“Todo te va a salir bien,” read another. Everything will go well for you, it said. “Spread your wings and flyyyyy.”
Afraid of being stopped and detained at the airport, as has happened to other immigrants attempting to leave the country, Negrete preferred to drive to Tijuana and then fly to Guadalajara.
Negrete’s driver, his friend Jorge Leonardo, turned into a parking lot at the sign reading “LAST USA EXIT.”
Negrete put on his black felt tejana hat and called Iris Rodriguez, who was in the companion car. He asked her to cross on foot with him.
Negrete walks his last few steps on American soil as he enters Mexico en route to Guadalajara, his new home.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“I don’t want to go alone,” he said.
“We’re still on American soil,” Leonardo said. “You can still change your mind.”
Negrete ignored him.
“See y’all on the other side,” he said as he hopped out of the car.
He and Rodriguez stopped for photos in front of a sign with an arrow pointing “To Mexico.” Around a corner, the border came into full view — a metal turnstile with layers of concertina wire above it.
The line for Mexicanos was unceremoniously quick. The immigration agent barely glanced at Negrete’s passport before waving him through.
On the other side, a busker sang “Piano Man” by Billy Joel in perfect English.
“Welcome to the motherland,” Rodriguez told him. Negrete let out a deep breath.
Negrete tours downtown Guadalajara, where he now lives.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Negrete’s immediate family members, and almost all of his extended family, live in the U.S.
He was born in Manzanillo, Colima, in 1982. Three months later, the family relocated to Los Angeles, where his parents had two more children.
At 17, Negrete was one of two students in his graduating class at Roosevelt High School to get into UC Berkeley. That’s when he found out he didn’t have papers.
His parents had divorced and his father married a U.S. citizen, obtaining a green card when Negrete was at Roosevelt. They began the legalization process for Negrete in 1999, he said, but two years later he came out to his family as gay.
His father was unsupportive and refused to continue seeking to adjust his immigration status. By the time they mended their relationship, it was too late. Negrete had aged out of the pathway at 21.
In 2008, Negrete said, he was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Four years later, President Obama established the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program to protect immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Negrete failed to qualify because of the DUI.
He said he got his record expunged in 2016, but — again — it was too late.
Negrete waited until his last night in the U.S. to tell his mother, who now lives in Colorado, that he was leaving. He had grown tired of friends and other family members begging him to change his mind.
He had partially hinged his decision on the fact that his mom was in remission from her third bout with cancer and had just obtained legal residency. With life more stable for her, he could finally seek stability for himself.
“You taught me to dream,” Negrete recalled telling her. “This is me dreaming. I want to see the world.”
She cried and scolded him, promising to visit and repeating what she had said when he came out to her all those years before: “I wish you told me sooner.”
At a hotel in Tijuana, Negrete’s emotions finally caught up with him.
The day after Negrete and his three friends left L.A., three more friends surprised him by arriving in Tijuana for a final Friday night out together. One of them presented a gift he had put together with help from Negrete’s entire social circle — a video with loved ones sharing messages of encouragement.
In Negrete’s hotel room, as he and his friends watched, the mood grew sentimental.
“You’re basically the one that formed the family friend tree,” one friend said in her clip. “Friendships do not die out in distance.”
Negrete sobbed. “Yes! Friendships don’t have borders,” he said.
“Every single one of you has said this hasn’t hit y’all, like it’s a mini vacation,” he said. “I want to think of it as an extended vacation.”
“This isn’t goodbye, this is we’ll see each other soon,” he continued.
Off his soapbox, Negrete then chided his friends for making him cry before heading to a drag show.
Negrete had a habit of leaving social gatherings abruptly. His friends joked that they would refer to him as “catch me on the 101” because every time he disappeared during a night out, they would open Apple’s Find My app and see him on the freeway heading home.
“We’re not gonna catch him on the 101 no more,” Martinez said.
The last few flights of stairs lead Iris Rodriguez and Negrete to his Airbnb apartment in Guadalajara.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
On the flight to Guadalajara, Negrete’s heart raced and he began to hyperventilate. The anxiety attack caught him off guard.
Negrete had worked hard to show his friends and family that he was happy, because he didn’t want them to think he had doubts — and he had none. But he began to worry about the unknown and to mourn his former dreams of gaining legal status and running for public office.
“It hit me all at once,” he recounted. “I am three hours away from a whole new life that I don’t know. I left everything and I don’t know what’s next.”
Many deep breaths by Negrete later, the plane descended through the clouds, revealing vibrant green fields and a cantaloupe-hued sunset.
Negrete tests the bed at his temporary home in Guadalajara.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Inside the Airbnb, he was surprised to find a clothesline instead of a dryer. Noticing the blue 5-gallon jug of water in the kitchen, he remarked that he would have to remember tap water wasn’t safe to cook with. But alongside the new was something familiar: The view from his 11–story apartment showed off a sprawling metropolis dotted with trees, some of them palms.
The next day started off like any Sunday, with a trip to Walmart and drag brunch.
Negrete marveled at the cost of a large carton of egg whites ($1) and was shocked to see eggs stored at room temperature, liquid laundry detergent in bags and only single-ply toilet paper. He treated himself to a Darth Vader coffee mug and a teapot featuring characters from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
After brunch, it was time to play tourist. Negrete was accompanied by Rodriguez, who stayed with him for the first two weeks, and a new friend, Alejandro Preciado, whom he had met at Coachella in April and happened to be a Guadajalara local.
Negrete tours downtown Guadalajara. He was drawn to the city, in part, by its Gothic architecture.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Their first stop was the city’s Spanish Renaissance cathedral, where Negrete said a quick prayer to the Virgin Mary at his mother’s request. Negrete treated his friends to an electric carriage ride around the historic buildings, where he excitedly pointed out the Gothic architecture, then they bought aguas frescas and walked through an open-air market, chatting in an English-heavy Spanglish.
“I’m trying to look at how people dress,” Negrete said, suddenly self-conscious about his short shorts. “I’m pretty sure I stand out.”
After dinner, Negrete was booking an Uber back to his Airbnb when a message popped up: “We’ve detected unusual activity.”
The app didn’t know he had moved.
Before he arrived in Guadalajara, Negrete had already joined an intramural baseball team and a running club. Practices began days after his arrival.
Negrete enjoys a view of the sprawling hills of Guadalajara.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Within a month, he moved into an apartment, visited Mexico City and reconnected with aunts in Mexico City and Guadalajara he hadn’t seen in decades.
He reflected on the small joys of greeting neighborhood señoras on morning dog walks, discovering the depths of Mexican cuisine and the peace of mind that came with no longer feeling like a target — though he’ll still freeze at the sight of police lights.
Still, Negrete remained glued to U.S. politics. In late September, the federal government detailed plans to begin processing initial DACA applications for the first time in four years. Had Negrete stayed in the U.S., he would have finally qualified for a reprieve.
He isn’t regretful.
Lorca greets Negrete as he arrives home after touring Guadalajara.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
His new dreams are wide-ranging. He wants to buy a house in Rosarito, where friends and family from L.A. could visit him. He wants to travel the world, starting with a trip to Spain. And he wants to help U.S. organizations build resources for other immigrants who are considering repatriating.
The goal isn’t to encourage people to leave, he said, but to show them they have agency.
“I actually did it,” he said. “I did it, and I’m OK.”
Now, he said, Mexico feels like an estranged relative that he’s getting to know again.
U.S. congressional lawmakers have failed to agree on a spending package for the new fiscal year, which triggered a federal government shutdown on Wednesday.Many Americans are wondering how the shutdown will impact travel, and, specifically, how it will affect passport applications and driver’s license services. Here’s what we know.Are passports still being processed?Yes. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for overseeing the naturalization process, is primarily funded by application fees, meaning a lapse in funding at the federal government has minimal impacts on most passport and visa processing.What if I have a passport appointment with the United States Postal Service?The U.S. Postal Service is unaffected by a government shutdown. It’s an independent entity funded through the sale of its products and services, not by tax dollars. You can still make appointments for new passport applications, passport renewals and photo services on the USPS website.Can I still get a driver’s license or REAL ID?You can still get a driver’s license or REAL ID during a government shutdown.That’s because motor vehicle departments are primarily funded and operated through state budgets.This means you can also make an appointment or visit one of your state’s driver’s license centers to receive a REAL ID with proper paperwork. The shutdown will not stop Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees from enforcing the REAL ID Act in U.S. airports and other federal facilities.TSA officers are typically deemed essential and must remain on the job, though they are not paid. What about visas?Agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement, however, that the shutdown does temporarily shutter the agency’s E-Verify program, a free online system that employers can use to confirm their new employees are authorized to work in the U.S.The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.
U.S. congressional lawmakers have failed to agree on a spending package for the new fiscal year, which triggered a federal government shutdown on Wednesday.
Many Americans are wondering how the shutdown will impact travel, and, specifically, how it will affect passport applications and driver’s license services.
Here’s what we know.
Are passports still being processed?
Yes. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency responsible for overseeing the naturalization process, is primarily funded by application fees, meaning a lapse in funding at the federal government has minimal impacts on most passport and visa processing.
What if I have a passport appointment with the United States Postal Service?
The U.S. Postal Service is unaffected by a government shutdown. It’s an independent entity funded through the sale of its products and services, not by tax dollars. You can still make appointments for new passport applications, passport renewals and photo services on the USPS website.
Can I still get a driver’s license or REAL ID?
You can still get a driver’s license or REAL ID during a government shutdown.
That’s because motor vehicle departments are primarily funded and operated through state budgets.
This means you can also make an appointment or visit one of your state’s driver’s license centers to receive a REAL ID with proper paperwork.
The shutdown will not stop Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees from enforcing the REAL ID Act in U.S. airports and other federal facilities.
TSA officers are typically deemed essential and must remain on the job, though they are not paid.
What about visas?
Agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement, however, that the shutdown does temporarily shutter the agency’s E-Verify program, a free online system that employers can use to confirm their new employees are authorized to work in the U.S.
The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.
A Russian man who slipped past Danish airport security to board a flight to Los Angeles International Airport without a passport, visa or ticket was found guilty of being a stowaway, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.
After a three-day trial, 46-year-old Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava was found guilty of one count of being a stowaway on an aircraft.
He faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 5.
Authorities say Ochigava slipped aboard a flight to Los Angeles on Nov. 4 after passing through a Copenhagen Airport boarding gate undetected.
He had been able to get into the airport terminal without a boarding pass a day earlier after tailgating an unsuspecting passenger through a security turnstile, prosecutors said.
During the more than 12-hour flight aboard Scandinavian Airlines Flight 931, Ochigava constantly shifted seats, spoke to several passengers, asked for two in-flight meals and tried to snack on a cabin crew member’s chocolate bar, according to court documents filed by federal prosecutors.
Upon arrival at LAX, Customs and Border Protection officers stopped Ochigava at an immigration checkpoint, and were unable to find him on the manifest of that flight or any other incoming international flights, court documents said.
Ochigava was unable to produce a passport, visa or other travel documents that would allow him entrance into the country, according to the Department of Justice. When questioned, authorities say, he provided false and misleading information about his journey to the United States, including claiming he had left his passport on the plane.
Russian and Israeli identification cards were found in his possession when police searched his bag, according to court documents.
Additional details as to the motivation behind Ochigava’s journey were not immediately available.
Dylan Mulvaney, the transgender influencer who cost Bud Light hundreds of millions of dollars last year after teaming up with the brand for a partnership, is celebrating after scoring a new female gender marker on a passport.
Mulvaney’s New Passport
“Starting 2024 with a new passport and an essay I wrote for @portermagazine on my pledge to stop people pleasing,” Mulvaney wrote on social media alongside a photo of the document. “Here’s to ease through TSA and the year ahead.”
Mulvaney included a link to a Porter essay in which the 26 year-old transgender influencer admitted that anxiety surrounding people-pleasing “is most noticeable at the airport.”
“I show up in a sweats set, but add femme accessories and earrings in the hope of not being misgendered,” Mulvaney wrote. “The TSA step-through scan is my worst enemy, and often I have to whisper into the officer’s ear, ‘Um, I’m trans.’ Has this TSA officer seen my videos? Do they believe trans people exist? Once I make it through security, I pull my face mask up and race through the terminal.”
“Airport bathrooms scare me more than anywhere else. I pray my mask hides the whiskers on my face that I still have left from hours of electrolysis and laser, though I know cis women have facial hair, too. Once I make it to the gate, I try to sit facing a wall so that no one can catch my eye,” the transgender influencer added. “I’m too nervous of the potential for hateful comments, which has happened plenty of times prior. I realize this limits me from the flipside – meeting lovely people who support me – but I don’t know if it’s worth taking the chance.”
Mulvaney went on to say that 2023 ended “on an exciting note” with the passport female gender marker update.
“I just got my gender marker and photo changed on my passport, so now the airport should be a little less daunting in 2024,” wrote Mulvaney. “I hope everything will be less daunting.”
“I hope that love pours over the hate and, most importantly, that the majority of the love comes from within,” Mulvaney concluded. “Because, really, the only person I need to please is myself.”
Laura Trump responded to the hate from the Left about this dress she wore:
“If I was Dylan Mulvaney, and there were some visible bulge available for the Democrats to celebrate, I’d be on the cover of Vogue in this dress.” 😂😂
This comes after Daily Mail reported that Bud Light’s parent company Anheuser-Busch announced that revenue in the U.S. fell by 13.5 percent between July and September in the wake of the Mulvaney partnership that came out back in April. On top of that, sales to U.S. retailers were also down 17 percent during that time period, with Anheuser-Busch admitting that this was largely due to a drop in demand for Bud Light.
As for Bud Light specifically, its sales were down 29 percent in the four weeks that ended on October 21 compared to the same period one year ago. This is in the wake of conservatives launching a highly affective boycott of Bud Light after the company teamed up with Mulvaney for the April partnership.
What do you think about Mulvaney’s new passport? Let us know in the comments section.
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An Ivy leaguer, proud conservative millennial, history lover, writer, and lifelong New Englander, James specializes in the intersection of culture and politics.
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MONTREAL, December 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– The Passport Index has published its latest update today, showing that global mobility is rising, despite the eruption of conflict in Europe and growing tensions over borders. Though the world continues to feel the aftershocks of the pandemic, surprisingly, traveling has never been easier, with steady growth in passport power, a trend that is predicted to continue into 2023. Across these findings, what stands out, in particular, is that the passport of almost every single country around the world became more powerful this year.
Table 1: Top 10 changes in mobility score
Table 2: Bottom 10 changes in mobility score
This may be surprising given the ongoing war in Ukraine in combination with systemic pressures on international supply chains. However, the latest data from the Passport Index indicates strong mobility growth. Whilst the removal of Covid-19 restrictions has certainly played a role, countries around the world have also been keen to reap the economic benefits offered by enabling easy movement around the world. Passport power around the world has increased by an average of 16 points this year, with just one country, Vanuatu, seeing its mobility score fall. This was due to the suspension of their visa waiver scheme with the European Union. The fact the power of their passport has fallen by just seven points despite this indicates strong growth elsewhere.
Table 3: 10 most powerful passports (2022)
Not only are passports becoming more powerful, but countries are becoming increasingly open to visa-free arrivals. Prior to the pandemic, the average growth of the World Openness Score was 3.6% a year. After the impact of the pandemic, the score experienced a decline of 65%, falling from 21,360 to 12,944. Since then, growth has rebounded spectacularly, with an average growth rate of 18.8%. At the end of 2022, this score now stands at 21,695; the highest it’s ever been.
The finding of general growth in global mobility does, however, obscure some of the winners and losers this year. The UK falls into this latter category: though it has seen its global mobility score rise again, its year-on-year gains have stagnated relative to other European states, such as France. This trend appears set to continue as the UK struggles to strike the visa agreements achieved by states within the EU. This is largely attributable to the consequences of leaving the common market.
Alongside the rise in passport power around the world, countries, in general, have become more welcoming, with a greater number of countries accepting more passports visa-free, with visa on arrival, or with electronic travel agreement. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Africa, where many countries, especially those in Central and West Africa, have continued to create a travel environment that is accessible to all, no matter the nationality on your passport. The Passport Index’s Welcoming Countries Rank shows that 15 of the 23 most welcoming countries in the world are found in Africa, welcoming 198 countries out of 199.
Hrant Boghossian, Co-founder of the Passport Index, commented that “the rise in passport power that we have seen this year brings great cause for optimism. The world has surpassed the benchmark of ‘openness’ set prior to the pandemic, and there are strong indicators that this upward trend is here to stay. It is particularly encouraging to see such growth at a time of heightened geopolitical tension and economic turmoil, indicating that countries agree that a world with fewer borders has the potential to address some of the defining challenges of the 21st century.”
LONDON, August 30, 2018 (Newswire.com)
– The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) continues to draw international attention, receiving perfect scores in several outcomes of the latest study into the industry – the CBI Index. According to legal advisory and second citizenship experts, CS Global Partners, this strong performance is matched with a heightened interest from their High Net-Worth clients.
The 2018 CBI Index, published by Financial Times subsidiary Professional Wealth Management, awarded St Kitts and Nevis perfect scores in due diligence (the programme’s vetting and security procedures), ease of processing, and in travel and residence requirements. The Programme also received additional credit for recently expanded travel opportunities (those with a St Kitts and Nevis passport can now travel to more than 150 countries or territories visa-free). And, adapting to a rapidly evolving market, the programme became more affordable in the past year, for which the 2018 CBI Index also awarded an additional point.
St Kitts and Nevis is widely acknowledged as the Platinum Standard in this growing economic citizenship industry. As the nation continues to live up to this title, we are increasingly seeing more interest in the Programme. It fits the needs of so many of our clients who want to make their busy, complex lives easier, and who want to create opportunities for their business and families.
Andres Gutierrez, Global Business Development Manager, CS Global Partners
According to Andres Gutierrez, Global Business Development Manager for CS Global Partners, the consistently strong performance from the St Kitts and Nevis programme is translating to increased international investment for the nation:
“St Kitts and Nevis is widely acknowledged as the Platinum Standard in this growing economic citizenship industry. As the nation continues to live up to this title, we are increasingly seeing more interest in the Programme. It fits the needs of so many of our clients who want to make their busy, complex lives easier, and who want to create opportunities for their business and families.”
Gutierrez says that those seeking second citizenship are savvy international businesspersons who want to see clear outcomes from their investment:
“Our clients want optimal value – they want to have confidence in the investment, and they want stability. That is exactly what a second citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis provides. As the world’s oldest and arguably most sophisticated programme, all evidence suggests that the product will become more valuable with time. Look at the nation’s increases to visa-free travel – that is but one example of the way the product is increasing in value.”
Beverly Hills, California, July 24, 2016 (Newswire.com)
– Did you know it’s the perfect time to get a passport? These things take time and if you plan on traveling this spring or summer, you might want to consider putting in your application now before you have to stress out about it getting back to you in time. Passports are a crucial piece of the travel puzzle when you plan on traveling outside of the country so being clued in to why you need one, how to get one, and what you need before you can receive one is not only part of your preparation, but also a super important bit of knowledge.
So, starting from the beginning, why do you need a passport? There are so many more uses for a passport than you would think. The most common of course is international travel, but did you know it can also double as an official identification and offer certain protections while traveling? The acting principle of the passport is to allow you entry into foreign countries as well as re-entry when returning, but you knew that already. Probably the most important part of traveling with a passport is the fact that is undeniable proof of your identity and country of origin. Which means when you leave or enter a country, as long as you have your passport, you should be able to do it efficiently with little time spent on furnishing additional identification or proof of citizenship.
So, obviously, traveling with a passport can get you in and out with less hassle, but let’s say you run into trouble; whether it is legal trouble, a medical emergency, or natural disaster having your handy dandy U.S. passport allows you to easily request assistance from your consulate. While the consulate will still assist you if you do not have a passport (lost or stolen), carrying yours with you will insure you are able to prove your identity and get access to help if needed such as: medical treatment, limited legal services, and even evacuation in the worst scenarios. Having your passport with you also allows you non-emergency services such as absentee voting, transferring government benefits, providing U.S. tax documents, and many others.
So, what do American consulate and world travel have in common with passports? You need one to get the most efficient service possible. When you apply for a passport you go through a strenuous process which allows you to prove you are essentially you and you meet all qualifications as a citizen to be allowed to travel. The background check is extremely through and there are a few things that can disqualify you such as felony drug convictions and unpaid child support. These dis-qualifiers are in place to protect those who do qualify by trying to prevent as much trouble as possible and allowing greater ease of movement and freedom for travelers. So, we’ve talked you into getting one, but now that you want or need one, what is the first step. There are three distinct categories you will want to pay attention to: the application, the supporting documents, and the price. The application is pretty cut and dry. Much like any other application process you will enter all of your candid information from social security number, name, birthday, and much more. This initial form for a new applicant is called DS-11. The process is a little different for those who are reapplying or going for a passport renewal, but we’re focusing on newbies this time.
Now that you have your DS-11 completed honestly and to the best of your knowledge, you will need to submit the application in person with all of your supporting documents, unless you are submitting anonline passport application; those rules are a little different and can be found here. According to the U.S. Department of State,: “When applying for a U.S. passport in person, acceptable identification with photograph must be presented at the time of application.” So you can choose from a list of acceptable identification such as: Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship, Fully-valid Driver’s License, Current Government ID, or Current Military ID. There are other forms of identification you can use as well if you are not able to furnish the most common ones which are referred to as Secondary Evidence of Identification and must be used in combination with an identifying witness. It’s definitely a harder way to go, but will work if you lack the initial support documents.
Choosing to submit your U.S. passport application in person allows you to keep your identification on your person after showing it to the clerk, but a photocopy of the ID and any other documents will need to be provided along with the paper application. The last bit of documentation is probably the most important, your photo.
The US passport photo requirements are pretty strict. You want it to look good, but the government doesn’t want to see your duck lips or selfie pose so they set rules as to how your photo should look. Are you now asking yourself: Then where can I get a passport photo? that doesn’t look awful? At Mail Boxes Times, we have been taking passport photos for many years and we not only know all of the passport photo requirements by heart, but we also know how to make your photo turn out modeling agency perfect. I know, shameless plug, but honestly we do a good job, so don’t be camera shy.
If you choose to take and print your own photo, here are a few things to be aware of. The size of your photo must be exactly 2×2 inches or 51×51 mm, with your head between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from chin to crown. That’s pretty specific if you ask me, but they want to be able to verify it is absolutely you. Another important guideline is the fact that the photo must not be older than 6 months and must display a neutral facial expression or natural smile. No silly faces or crazy stuff allowed…this time.
Once you have all of your documents and photos approved you then must broach the monetary aspect of the ordeal. World travel can be expensive, but if you plan ahead, your passport doesn’t have to break the bank. If you are over the age of 16 and it is your first time getting a passport, right now the going rate is $110 USD. The cost is lower is you are under 16 or if you are renewing, but where the real cost comes in is if you haven’t planned well enough. There are tons of services out there willing to expedite your application, shipping, and processing times, but you can avoid all of those additional fees by planning ahead and leaving enough time between your application and departure date.
Right now, according to the US Department of State,:” As of Tuesday, January 5, 2016, we are processing routine applications in approximately 4-6 weeks from the time of application.” So, if you are planning a trip in the next few months, now is the time to get your paperwork ready and submitted.
So, we’ve gone over the function of a passport and what it is good for, and we’ve gone over how to apply for one so you should be all set right? Well, before you head out on your worldly journey, we want to make sure you have taken the extra steps to ensure you are ready and as safe as possible.
One of the ways you can make sure you are being as cautious as possible is registering for STEP. Step is the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, a free service provided to US citizens and nationals traveling abroad. STEP allows you to register with your consulate before your trip in case of personal or political emergencies. It also allows family members to contact you if the need arises.
Another thing you should consider is recording the consulate information and write down this form number: DS-64. We hope this never happens to you, but if you end up losing or having you passport stolen, report it immediately. If you are already abroad you can utilize your consulate for help, or at home contact the US Department of State. You can even do it online if that’s your thing, just make sure you report it as soon as it happens.
