Yes, see my last two sentences - I completely agree that area is sometimes referred to as a/the "sterile" area/corridor.
Regardless of how a civilian agency (GAO) colloquially refers to the area, we have very specific, technical definitions for the "sterile" and "secure" areas (a little like how one says "make me two xerox copies" even though it is a canon photocopier in use....) What I was addressing was the use of the term "non-sterile." Any area in which the pax have access after going through TSA screening is, technically, the sterile area. Even though the walkways an international pax traverses on the way to the inspection is point is segregated from other pax in the same terminal building both (or all) of the areas are, from the technical ASP standpoint, "sterile." The segregated area for int'l arriving pax are technically referred to as the "CBP security zones/areas."
Even airport workers with the appropriate SIDA badge that allows entry into the sterile areas without going through PSC screening may not enter the CBP security zone without special additional credentials or special escort.
See also these sources for definitions of "secure" area and "sterile" area - they are all consistent even as SFO is a bit more, um, liberal in its language.
https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/fi..._sida_sw_0.pdf
1 The Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) refers to portions of an airport, specified in the airport security program, in which security measures required by regulation must be carried out. This area includes the security area and may include other areas of the airport.
The “Sterile Area” refers to portions of an airport defined in the airport security program that provides passengers access to boarding aircraft and to which the access generally is controlled by TSA, an aircraft operator, or a foreign air carrier. [highlight added]
See also this document:
http://media.flysfo.com/media/sfo/ab...egulations.pdf
https://www.mwaa.com/sites/default/f...017_signed.pdf