This was not about airport security - he had already de-planed and was trying to leave the airport, having already passed through immigration.
One of the things the US is supposed to be really big on is freedom from Big Brother. Having legally entered his own country, not attempting to get on another plane, and offerring to cooperate as long as someone, under color of authority, would verbally go on record that he was required by law to do so, with specifics. Nobody was willing or able to actually do this. Nobody was clear about jurisdiction. The police wouldn't do anything without the TSAs instructions.
The TSA didn't know what's up - and I for one would like the people in charge of security in the airport to know what's up, right?
EDIT: From the sounds of things this really was more about poor airport design and people flow as well as misunderstanding of policies.
One of the things the US is supposed to be really big on is freedom from Big Brother. Having legally entered his own country, not attempting to get on another plane, and offerring to cooperate as long as someone, under color of authority, would verbally go on record that he was required by law to do so, with specifics. Nobody was willing or able to actually do this. Nobody was clear about jurisdiction. The police wouldn't do anything without the TSAs instructions.
The TSA didn't know what's up - and I for one would like the people in charge of security in the airport to know what's up, right?
EDIT: From the sounds of things this really was more about poor airport design and people flow as well as misunderstanding of policies.