Sikhs subject to extra screening at US Airports
(6 May 2009)

100% secondary screening rates of Sikh travelers continue to be an issue at California’s airports claims The Sikh Coalition in its quarterly review of security screening of Sikh travelers in US airports (TSA Report Card). Of all the reports received, no Sikh turbaned traveler reported being spared a secondary screening at Oakland Airport. "We first brought this issue to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) attention in October 2008. In response, a few of California’s TSA administrators met with Sikh groups in early February 2009", the report states.

In addition to Oakland Airport, frequent flyers through Sacramento Airport also noted 100% screening rates at that location. Both airports are among the top screening airports according to the Sikh Coalition’s data. Similar reports have also been received from Seattle, while officials in Dallas and Chicago airports told Sikhs that turban searches are mandatory.

Though Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials from Washington D.C. at that meeting reiterated that the policy is not intended to mandate turban screenings, no action has yet been taken to remedy the screening problem at Oakland. A follow up meeting to discuss the policy has been planned for the first week of May in Washington D.C.

The TSA Report Card

*Note that this number is based on self-reporting by Sikh travelers. As a result, since more people are likely to complain about unpleasant experiences at security, this percentage is likely weighted towards bad experiences.

Specific Incidents

1. A traveler leaving from Oakland Airport was subjected to a full body pat down after clearing the metal detector. The TSO then mentioned that the passenger “would be a good one” for another TSA officer to get trained on.

2. A Sikh passenger traveling through Buffalo Airport was screened by four separate TSA officers before being allowed to proceed. Although one had only wanted to check his loose sweatshirt, another instructed the first officer to screen the full body. Then, a third and fourth screener asked the passenger numerous questions about his trip, where he lived and his destination.

3. A passenger at Phoenix Airport was instructed to go through a full body scan machine in lieu of a TSO pat down .

4. A passenger traveling through Dallas Airport had cleared security but was called back by a separate TSO whose supervisor claimed that all turbans must be screened. “I can even pull you out of the boarding area, if I want to,” the supervisor said.

Recommendations

1. Audit TSA screeners in the exercise of their discretion, to ensure that individual TSA employees are not engaging in racial profiling at U.S. airports.

2. Promptly address claims of mandatory or 100% secondary screenings for Sikh passengers at the airports where they arise.

3. Guide TSA screeners to inform Sikh passengers of all three of their options as soon as a passenger is identified for additionalscreening of their turban.

4. Involve Sikh civil rights groups in the development of cultural sensitivity training materials for TSA screeners.

5. Post information about the screening procedures in Punjabi.