Hmm...I'm not sure what you're talking about. I was sure most of the posts have covered every scenario. Lemme try this...
There are no legal barriers between TSA and Immigration, they are both DHS agencies and have to work together. Immigration will only get involved if the tourist has an invalid/expired Visa. If the tourist is here legally, Immigration can not do anything, and TSA will have the final decision. TSA will not allow the tourist to go beyond security to board their flight if they refuse the screening.
TSA does not care where the tourist goes, but they can't stay at the checkpoint, and they won't be allowed in. They can go back to their hotel, or live in the terminal lobby like Tom Hanks.
They can seek assistance from their embassy, call relatives in their home country to get a WesternUnion moneygram, or live in the streets eating out of garbage cans until their Visa expires. Once their Visa expires, they can turn themselves in to Immigration for free ticket (deportation) home. Before getting deported, they will be groped against their will, and they do not have a say in the matter.
Otherwise, they can live in hiding like the millions of other non-citizens living here. The majority of illegals living in the United States gain access by overstaying their tourist/student/work Visas.
The only options for a tourist in this situation is:
a) get groped and go home
b) don't get groped and live in the US illegally
Am I still misunderstanding something?
