AviationDHS finds no racial profiling at Logan Airport
An August 2012 allegation of racial profiling by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers sparked an investigation into the screening practices of TSA officers at Logan International Airport. DHS has recently concluded an investigation into allegations, and concluded that there was no evidence that TSA officers in Boston have been targeting minorities for additional screening to meet quotas.
TSA agents waiting for passengers // Source: giaoduc.net.vn
An August 2012 allegation of racial profiling by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers sparked an investigation into the screening practices of TSA officers at Logan International Airport. The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts reported that eight TSA officers expressed concerns about colleagues seeking out minorities during security checks. The ACLU reported that this comes after more than thirty officers had filed internal complaints about the discriminatory practice.
The Boston Globe reports that DHS has recently concluded an investigation into allegations, and concluded that there was no evidence that TSA officers in Boston have been targeting minorities for additional screening to meet quotas. The TSA’s behavior detection program, the focus of the investigation, spots suspicious passengers based on body language, responses to questions, and unusual actions, and directs them for additional screening.
The Globe noted that of the eighty-four behavior detection officers and managers interviewed by DHS’s Office of Inspector General, only one recalled an instance of racial profiling. Investigators from the DHG IG office interviewed Black and Hispanic passengers at Logan who had been selected for additional inspections, but none of them felt targeted because of their race. Investigators also reviewed hundreds of documents related to the airport’s behavior detection program, including complaints, statistics, and records of referrals for secondary screenings.
“Profiling is not tolerated within the ranks of TSA, and the investigation found no evidence of profiling by behavior detection officers at Boston Logan International Airport,” said TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis. “TSA has long made clear that profiling is not only discriminatory, but it is also an ineffective way to identify someone intent on doing harm. Officers are trained and audited to look for observable behaviors and behaviors alone.”
The ACLU criticized the DHS findings, citing a May report by DHS IG which claimed that the TSA does not review the effectiveness of the behavior detection program, therefore DHS “cannot ensure that passengers at United States airports are screened objectively.” The ACLU claims that TSA managers demand that a high number of passengers be stopped for additional screening to show that the behavior detection program is effective. To meet the high numbers, the ACLU says, some TSA officers focused on minorities with the understanding that minorities were more likely to have immigration or criminal issues, including arrest warrants.
The Massachusetts Port Authority, operator of Logan airport, was gratified with the DHS IG’s conclusion that there was no racial profiling at the airport. “The authority has said consistently that racial profiling is illegal, ineffective, and there is no place for it in any security program,” said spokesman Matthew Brelis. “We will continue to work with our partners to promote effective, legal security programs that protect the millions of passengers who use Boston Logan and the thousands of people who work at the airport.”
