Thompson Inquires on Racial Profiling
Reports from Honolulu Airport Show Repeated Problems with TSA SPOT Program
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
November 22, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), regarding recent news reports that Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) who work in the agency’s Screening of Passengers by Observation Technique (SPOT) program were targeting Mexican travelers at Honolulu Airport. This is similar to news reports that originated from Newark New Jersey in June. Taken together, these reported actions raise concerns not only about the about the scientific validity of the SPOT program, but also about the training, curriculum and on-site supervision provided to the officers that administer it.
Link to Letter
Link to TSA Response
Previous letters regarding SPOT and Newark Incident:
June letter to TSA re: Newark Incident
TSA Response
August letter to TSA re: SPOT ‘chat-downs’
TSA Response
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
