Immigration Station at the John Kennedy Airport - Essay Example

The immigration station is responsible for checking each passenger’s documentation to ascertain its validity. Unlike US citizens, international citizens undergo more stringent security checks. US legislations mandate their compliance to US policies about immigration documentation, luggage policies, and invasive security checks. Firstly, each immigrant passenger must have a valid international visa and passport, which provides details about their travel history. Logging passengers’ documentation into the airport system provides a reference point for authorities in the event of a crisis. For example, law enforcement units obtain search warrants to access travel logs from airports when examining evidence of an alleged criminal’s history. In addition, the immigration personnel at the airport examine immigrants’ documentation to confirm that they have received all the stipulated immunizations. Secondly, the luggage policies are in place to ensure no contraband materials make their way into the country; for example, drugs. Finally, invasive security checks such as full-body scans and physical searches are in place to ensure passengers do not have any weapons. Currently, there is high-tech equipment that searches for any explosives on a passenger and their luggage. The security systems are continuously upgraded to ensure airports authority keeps up with advanced types of security breaches.

My first visit to the J.F.K International airport was a couple of years back on a family vacation. At the time, I was unaware of the purpose of security checks. In retrospect, I remember being extremely fascinated by having to walk through the full-body scan machines because of the sounds they made. Recently, I visited some friends who live in Manhattan for a month. My parents simply dropped me off at the airport, as they believed I was old enough to handle the procedures at the airport solely. Unlike during my first visit, the security checks were now more stringent. I had to pass through metal detectors and undergo full-body searches at every gate I passed. As I was sitting waiting for my flight to board, I sought some passengers’ opinions about the security checks. For most of them, the security checks were very intensive; however, they all agreed that they were useful in preempting security breaches.

In conclusion, the immigration station at the J.F.K International airport is an exemplary border. The screening tools used to ensure security at the airport help to prevent the unlawful entry of undocumented immigrants into the country while preventing attacks such as the terror attacks that happened in 2001.