I honestly don't get why people have such a problem with MIA - truly, truly I don't.
Every time I've arrived there I've cleared Immigration in less than 20 minutes. Sometimes I'm downstairs waiting for bags when the WT passengers are arriving at the carousel. It's never taken me longer than 45 minutes to clear the airport and be on the way to my rental car.
Apart from one occasion when the agent was grumpy, I found the officers at entry point to be friendly and courteous and ready for a chat/laugh. One time another passenger and I had a playful race to see who could clear through first and the officers joined in laughing the whole time.
My last visit a few weeks ago, the agent told me I was very pretty
As for TSA on departure - NEVER had a problem. Again always courteous, friendly and up for a laugh. I often bring home a cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory and this causes plenty of laughter about how it's their break time and sorry cheesecakes aren't allowed! We then have playful arguments and a joke. My last time coming through I spent 15 minutes or so just chatting socially with them (even after my items were cleared) as they were so nice.
Dare I suggest that perhaps some people go through with an attitude and this breeds an attitude in return. Because seriously I just don't get this animosity about Homeland Security/TSA agents at MIA.
The airport has a large number of employees from the Caribbean, Latin and South America and I do sometimes encounter attitude in some of the shops but
never with the authorities.
But Mikey I'm afraid you're incorrect about needing to clear MIA as an arriving pax connecting to an international destination. You don't have to do that. Your bags can be tagged right through via an ITI tag and you can remain in transit. It's the only US airport which allows this.