I don't disagree substantively with your sentiments, but you're conflating TSA and CBP. TSA is ostensibly about security on airplanes (or more realistically "s

I don't disagree substantively with your sentiments, but you're conflating TSA and CBP. TSA is ostensibly about security on airplanes (or more realistically "security theatre"), and are not law enforcement. You primarily deal with them before getting on an airplane in the US, for nearly all commercial flights (both international and domestic). CBP are law enforcement officers in the customs (contraband, taxes, etc) and immigration (passport control, visas) domains operating at the border. If you're traveling by plane, you primarily deal with them after you disembark from an international flight.