Tribal and Indigenous

TSA is committed to screening passengers from Tribal Nations with respect and dignity.

To File a Complaint

If your screening experience did not meet your expectations, request to speak with a supervisor at the checkpoint. You may also submit your concern to the TSA Contact Center.

Separate items of cultural, sacred or religious significance into a bin and inform the officer if the items cannot be screened by technology. The items may be inspected and screened by hand.

Examples: regalia, head bonnets, eagle feathers, peyote, herbs and ceremonial items.

TSA accepts IDs from Federally recognized Tribes. If your ID cannot be scanned by technology, you will be asked for a secondary ID that can be scanned. If you do not have a second ID, your Tribal ID will be inspected manually and cross-referenced with the Federal Register.

Please visit Security Screening – Identification for all acceptable forms of IDs.

Repatriation is the process of returning human remains and cultural items to lineal descendants, Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations.

TSA coordinates with Department of State and our colleagues at Customs and Border Protection to facilitate domestic and international repatriation in accordance with Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.