Amtrak is off limits for the same reason flights are. Usually.

To put this in perspectives, thousands of young people from the US overstay their visas in Europe every year, but they still seem pretty unconcerned about travel once they are in a given country. Most Americans can go to the most popular destinations without thinking twice about a visa, if they have a passport.

If an undocumented person were to purchase a passport from their consulate in the US, I would then assume they could use it to travel domestically, whether or not it actually had a valid visa stamp. Correct?

To answer the title question - no. Your friend is here illegal and is hopefully caught and deported.

Yes.

You do not need papers to travel within the USA. I travel all the time with only a drivers license. Domestic travel does not require proof of legal citizenship, residency, or immigration status.

SR

Undocumented immigrant with a valid state ID
 

Long story short I'm an illegal immigrant in US. I came here with my parents when I was younger from europe. We were legal for about 5 years and I have a legal Illinois Drivers License and also social security. So with that said am I able to fly domestically? I'm looking to go on vacation with my girlfriend who is a US citizen. We would be flying from Chicago Ohare to Miami/FT Lauderdale area sometime next month, but I have no idea if I can. Will I be caught etc? Anyone have any experience or know anything? Any information would be helpful! Thank you!

I don't see a problem. You don't give us any reason to think TSA won't accept your licence and treat you like any other passenger.

Go for it. TSA won't bother you

Get in your car and Drive-Drive-Drive.

You may be surprised at what DHS knows about you.
It could ruin a perfectly good vacation, maybe your life.
I wouldn't chance it, not to mention the feeling up of your girlfriend.

Paranoia at its finest.

You could be deported from US. If you come in USA illegally. You will barred from US for 5 to 10 years. You will being caught from TSA. If you come at airport. You could be arrested.

Um, no, not in this case.

Don't listen to him; this is just bad information.

TSA can't arrest or deport you. They can report anything 'suspicious' to people who can arrest or deport you.

That being said, why would the TDC (document checker) give a valid driver's license a second glance?

The airline does report name, birthdate, and gender to the TSA for a no-fly list. However, I think that is would be illegal for cops to use the airport data as a method to catch non-terror related crimes. (But who really knows with the Patriot Act?!?)

A few typos in the (In)Secure Flight data for birthdate and/or gender data has yet to stop my flights.

The odds of having a problem on such a trip in such situation is so slim as to be negligible. Enjoy your trip with your girlfriend and best of luck with getting your status adjusted or otherwise making a decision that suits your needs going forward.

As long as it is a regular IL DL and not a TVDL, you should be fine. I'd leave your SS card at home for sure; you don't need it and you don't want the TSA to see it.

The TSA checks for valid ID, not immigration status (unless you give them reason to like a foreign passport from a suspect country); presenting a valid state DL is just fine. Leave any foreign passport at home, too.

Why would it be illegal?

Wrong. He has a valid license and that's all u need to travel in US. TSA screener has no need to double check a valid license. Even if they run the DL numbers it will show valid. Have fun on you trip.