TSAFinal Rule
Restoration of Statutory Terms in Transportation Security Administration Regulations: Use of Alien; Technical Amendments
TransportationOther
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Summary
The TSA updated its regulations to restore the term 'alien' in official documents and made minor technical corrections to improve clarity. This change affects how the agency refers to non-U.S. citizens in its security screening procedures and rules.
Key Points
- 1The TSA replaced modern terminology with the statutory term 'alien' to match the language used in federal immigration law
- 2These are mostly technical and language updates that don't change how airport security actually works
- 3The changes apply to all TSA regulations that describe security screening procedures for travelers
- 4Non-U.S. citizens may see this terminology used in official TSA documents and communications
- 5The update aligns TSA rules with standard legal terminology found in federal transportation and immigration statutes
Impact Assessment
If you are a traveler or transportation company employee, this means TSA security screening documents will use the term 'alien' instead of alternative terminology when referring to non-U.S. citizens.
Impact Level
Routine
Geographic Scope
National
Compliance Cost
Minimal
Who is Affected
Transportation CompaniesConsumersFederal Employees
Key Dates
Published
February 17, 2026
Regulatory Connections
Other Documents in This Rulemaking (TSA-2013-0001)
TSATransportation
Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment
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Terminology Relating to Sex; Technical Amendments
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Recordkeeping Requirements for Criminal History Record Checks: Airport and Aircraft Operator Security; Technical Amendments
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Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustments for Inflation
This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.
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