Originally Posted by
Often1
What a pity that people don't carefully read what is written before going off half-cocked. TSA Officers most certainly have the authority to effect a temporary detention for law enforcement. That is what "calling a law enforcement officer" means. They can hold you where you are while a law enforcement officer is summoned and for the reasonable period of time it takes for law enforcement to get there.
For those who think they know better, try it and report back.
And how are they to do this? They cannot touch you without permission. Perhaps this is what the circling of the wagons is for, intimidating and outnumbering the passenger.