The whole principle behind such vestibules is that there is an instant when both doors are closed at the same time, which keeps the cold draft outside from getting inside.
I can force it open? Even Equinix datacenter mantrap doors can be pushed open. Firecode trumps security. Unless you're the TSA, and then its security theater > common sense.
If TSA wants to "secure" people I don't think they need evil magic robot doors to do that. But because this is HN, of course, I can't win that argument.
I would argue that TSA agents are more likely to abuse their power while benefiting from a power imbalance. Stopping someone physically is much harder than locking them in a box they have to walk through to get out of a terminal.
I don't believe you can't win the argument because this is Hacker News; you can't win the argument because of the TSA's track record (and to a greater extent, the results of unchecked power on humans).
The current reporting on these "detention pods" indicates that there is a moment when both doors are closed, and presumably unable to open. I'll have to test one in person to see.
