Originally Posted by TheBOSman

No USA airport is set up for non-US citizens transiting, unfortunately. I'm fortunate to be an American passport holder with Global Entry (expedited entry in a similar idea to Hong Kong e-channel, though different in execution). It is normally smooth sailing for me, but still a pain to go through immigration, pick up checked bags, go through customs, recheck bags, then have to deal with TSA when the large, high international transit volume airports in the vast majority of other countries are much easier. I can only imagine it being much worse for those not carrying an American passport.