Originally Posted by
TarsTarkas
My apologies if incorrect, but this has been my experience.
It is even announced on every flight I take into MIA that all passengers must claim their check-in luggage regardless of final destination.
But perhaps this is due to where my flights originate.
The "all pax must claim their luggage..." stuff is the exact same spiel you will get arriving into the US from any non pre-clearance international destination, this is not unique to MIA and probably applies to 99% of pax.
However at MIA (and also DFW IIRC?) there are special provisions where for international to international connecting pax if your bag is specially tagged it will be sent directly to the connecting flight so you don't have to claim and recheck it going through MIA customs and immigration.