Sorry the edit I made apparently did not make it: I am not a US citizen. Your thinking is backwards -- "do you seriously think the document checker is going to keep your passport" -- why they wouldn't? They already violate the US Constitution, so there's no reason to expect them to behave in any sane/rational etc ways.

This clearly says http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...documents.shtm "Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight."

There is no mention of required to hand over. So on what basis do they require me to hand it over? If they need to reflect a light over it, fine you can do that while I have it. That's still no reason for them to handle it.