Tsa No-Fly List Search Process

By Essie Osborn


TSA releases names of people considered threats to aviation. Prohibition from flying on security grounds has raised pertinent issues on the TSA no-fly list search for frequent travelers. It has been met with skepticism considering that these are just suspects with no criminal record.

Identifying a terrorist before an act is committed is a very difficult affair. Airline agents and security apparatus have been unable to do this for years. 9/11 proved that terrorists can live among people without being detected and still manage to perform heinous acts. People listed by the aviation safety regulators are sometime harmless. Others have names similar to listed individuals.

Real suspects are dealt with through investigation and arrest. This only happens where evidence can be presented. There is no evidence of any nature for those listed. This justifies the fact that they roam freely and have not recorded any statements about criminal involvement. They are suspects or people with similar names as the real suspects. No record can prove their guilt.

The names given on the lists do not have other details like date and place of birth. This means that a ticketing agent has no idea if the person listed is the same seeking to travel. This does not help in situations where people share names. This is a dilemma many agents have to deal with.

False positives are individuals whose names are similar to those listed. The scenario has been stressful especially for frequent travelers. They endure interrogation, searches and delays at various airports. This has happened several times to Senator Ted Kennedy because of the appearance of a person by the name T Kennedy.

TSA has failed to keep track of the people listed on this platform. This has caused numerous people to be delayed time and again. The fact that the search and frisking are repeated indicates a fault with the system of including the names. A frequent flier would expect that after the first search, his name will be cleared to eliminate suspicion in subsequent trips.

A person only discovers if he is on the list or not when he encounters trouble at the airport. It is impossible to verify if you have been blacklisted before hand. Being allowed to travel could also happen if you are listed among the selectees.

Individuals with a caution on their name are not allowed to check-in through the internet, automated systems or kiosks. They must present themselves personally to the person at the counter. One can check his status through airport personnel but they are under no obligation to disclose this information.

There is a legal process for reducing suspicion and ensuring that your name is not on the list. A person who suspects that he is there should fill the Traveler Identification Verification Form and submit it to TSA. This process does not lead to total clearance. Some people continue to experience travel hitches despite submitting the form.

A person who thinks that he has been listed can seek redress through constitutionally provided channels. There are civil organizations helping such individuals to reduce the level of suspicion. This will clear you from constant harassment.




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