Airport racial profiling in the United States
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Airport racial profiling in the United States is U.S. government activity directed at a
Since September 11, 2001, there have been reports on increases in racial profiling at airports, particularly targeting people who appear to be Muslim or of Middle Eastern descent. It has been a routine practice by law enforcement officials to stop individuals who are profiled because of their race and religious and ethnic appearance or who may appear to be "suspicious".[2]
Background
In the weeks following September 11, 2001, federal, state and local law enforcement officials investigated those responsible for the September 11 attacks during which nearly 3,000 people died. They assessed the United States's vulnerability to future acts of terrorism. Investigations showed the suspects of the crime to be of Middle Eastern origin.
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, US officials responded to the fears of air travelers by reinforcing security. Despite more thorough investigation of baggage and increased security staffing, there were so many vast open spaces, exits and entrances at airport hubs that prevention of incidents was problematic.
Criticism
A 2009 study published in the
Michael Kinsley asked in a 2001 article for Slate magazine if a rational reason exists to single out Arabic-looking men at airport.[7]
King Downing, the national coordinator of the American Civil Liberties Union's Campaign Against Airport Racial Profiling, says he was the victim of profiling by police at Logan International Airport in Boston, MA. He was going to the federal court to challenge a screening technique used around the country that looks at suspicious behavior patterns to identify potential terrorists.[8] Downing alleges he was stopped and questioned by state police after arriving on a flight to attend a meeting on racial profiling. He has sued the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates the airport, and the Massachusetts State Police, citing they violated his constitutional rights. Downing, who is black and wears a short beard, believes he was targeted because of his race. In his lawsuit, Downing alleges the behavioral screening system used at Logan Airport encourages racial profiling. His lawsuit also seeks a ruling to declare airport racial profiling as unconstitutional.
In 2002, after the September 11 attack on the US, Logan Airport began a program called "Behavior Assessment Screening System" which allows police to question passengers whose behavior appears to be "suspicious". Logan was the first airport in the country to use the system.[9] The plausibility of any benefit from "Behavior Assessment" has been questioned in a 2012 study by G. Stuart Mendenhall and Mark Schmidhofer of the Cato Institute.[10]
Legality
The Fourth Amendment provides that "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated". In its 1968 Fourth Amendment ruling,
US support
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2016) |
The
Frank Cilluffo, former special assistant for Homeland Security under then-President George W. Bush, said "airports need to be 'profiling' based on behavior even though it's a 'dirty word.'"[13]
A 2010 poll by USA Today showed Americans were in favor of more intensive security check for people who fit a profile of a terrorist based on age, ethnicity and gender.[14]
See also
- Flying imams incident
- Flying while Muslim
- Islamophobia in the United States
- Racial profiling in the United States
- September 11 attacks
- Detention and search of Indian VIPs at US airports
References
- ^ Peter Siggins. "Racial Profiling in an Age of Terrorism". Santa Clara University. Archived from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
- ^ Testimony from Amnesty International USA's hearing on racial profiling through airports
- ^ "Attack shows limits to airport security". BBC News. July 5, 2002. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ Chakrabarti, Samidh; Aaron Strauss (16 May 2002). "Carnival Booth: An Algorithm for Defeating the Computer-Assisted Passenger Screening System". Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ Ahlers, Mike M.; Jeanne Meserve (15 April 2011). "TSA security looks at people who complain about ... TSA security". CNN. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
- ^ Michael Kinsley (29 September 2001). "Discrimination we're afraid to be against". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ Michael Dwer/AP (4 December 2007). "ACLU official alleges racial profiling at airport". MSNBC Travel News. Archived from the original on 2016-09-15. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
- ^ "Boston airport expands behavior detection program". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ Mendenhall, G. Stuart; Mark Schmidhofer (December 2012). "Screening Tests for Terrorism" (PDF). Regulation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
- ^ Feder, Jody. "Racial Profiling: Legal and Constitutional Issues" (PDF). fas.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
- S2CID 144783509.
- ^ "Airport Security Measures Draw Accusations of 'Profiling'". www.foxnews.com. Fox News. January 6, 2010. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ Susan Page (January 12, 2010). "Poll: Most support ethnic profiling in air security". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2020-02-24.