On January 10, 2008, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a press release touting their Behavior Detection Officers and Travel Document Checkers program. At the bottom of the press release it says,
These are just a few examples of TSA’s partnership with agencies across the Department of Homeland Security and the law enforcement community to make air travel safer.
Presumably, the TSA is using their strongest cases to show Americans that their intrusive screening techniques are making us safer from terrorism. After all, that’s why this new government program that I opposed from the beginning was created.
So what did they tout as successes?
The police interviewed the individual, who was not traveling. During the interview, the individual threatened the officers and became combative.
Further investigation by law enforcement revealed that the individual has a felony probationary status and previous criminal history including loitering, robbery with a weapon, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer and battery. The police removed the individual from airport property.
Isn’t this something that could have been handled by regular airport security? Notice they didn’t find any weapons on him. I’m sure he was unpleasant, but a major security threat requiring a new government program? Probably not.
Ok, how about this?
The officer notified a nearby TSA behavior detection officer, who responded and confirmed that the passenger was exhibiting suspicious behavior. Airport police, as well as the FBI, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) were notified and interviewed the passenger.
During the interview, the FBI determined that the passenger had provided false identification, and that his passport and other identification did not match. Further investigation indicated he was here illegally. The individual was taken into custody by CBP and escorted to a detention center, pending further charges.
They caught a falsely documented person and immigration took him in. Please note once again, no weapons were found. Apparently he didn’t match our many terrorism watch lists either.
It’s worth mentioning at this point that all of the 9/11 hijackers had identification in their own names. So, just because someone doesn’t have correct documentation, it doesn’t follow that they are a terrorist. Now I know the TSA isn’t claiming either of these people are terrorists, but is this all we’re getting for all of the extreme intrusiveness since 9/11? I don’t feel safer or free, how about you?
Source for quotes:
Behavior Detection Officers and Travel Document Checkers ID People in California and Florida
News & Happenings
January 10, 2008
http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/bdo_finds_felon.shtm
Filed under: security theater | Tagged: TSA
