July 9, 2008 3:29PM 

# Hostages Returned to a Less-Free U.S.A. 

By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) 

---

<a class="js-popover-trigger cursor-pointer popover-trigger" data-bs-placement="bottom" data-bs-trigger="click" id="popover-trigger"> 

SHARE 

</a> 

Couldn’t help noting that Keith Stansell, one of the U.S. hostages [recently rescued](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/latin_america/july-dec08/hostagestalk_07-07.html) from Colombia, had this to say:

> To the government and armed forces of Colombia, their heroic actions, those of those soldiers that day, brought me home safe, and for this I thank them.
> 
> 
> To my country who never forgot me, never, and especially to the U.S. embassy in Bogota, my heartfelt thanks.
> 
> 
> And to you, the men and women of the media, thank you for respecting our privacy in these last few days. Thank you. I ask you please to continue to do so, please, as we proceed with our transition process back to a normal life as a family. Thank you very much.
> 
> 
> And to Governor Crist of the great state of Florida, sir, I don’t have a driver’s license. How am I going to get home?

Without a government-issued ID to show at the airport, it appears that Stansell will have to undergo a deep background check, which [may include his political party](https://www.cato.org/2008/06/24/tsa-background-check-includes-political-party/). (Having been “off the grid” the last three years, he may not have much background to check.) The [Department of Homeland Security](http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/enhance_id_requirements.shtm) welcomes you home, Mr. Stansell.

##### Related Tags 

[Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy), [Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

[![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 
This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).