This is a tad disturbing although it has always been bad for Muslims expecially Muslim men in general in US airports since 9/11.
Pakistanis remain under suspicion at US airports
** Ramped-up screening process for Pakistanis described as ‘augmented primary’
- ‘Passengers of interest’ asked why they travelled to Pakistan
By Khalid Hasan *
WASHINGTON: American citizens of Pakistani descent are under increased scrutiny by US security agencies, especially at points of entry into the United States, according to the online publication World Net Daily.
Over the last few years, US authorities have arrested or investigated several Pakistani-American men who have trained at the camps during trips to Pakistan. One camp used photos of President Bush for target practice. “The camps are a big concern,” said a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official. “We are questioning US citizens, as well as Pakistani nationals, as they come back to the US if the computer says they might have terrorist ties.”
DHS describes the ramped-up screening process for Pakistani and other high-risk travellers as “augmented primary”. Passenger information submitted by airlines flying into the US prior to arrival is used to decide which passengers to subject to special scrutiny or which ones to look out for.
While Muslims have complained of being “profiled”, the authorities have denied that any such process is at work. However, few are convinced, especially those who have been “put through the ringer”.
According to DHS documents, the airline-passenger information is fed into a so-called Automated Targeting System, or ATS-P, which flags inbound passengers who may pose a terrorism risk based on various criteria, including suspicious travel itineraries, travel to Pakistan and other high-risk countries, use of suspect ticketing agencies, or possible matches to federal watchlists.
Additional data gleaned from passenger travel records, including seating and meal preferences, are reviewed by DHS officials at the National Targeting Centre in Northern Virginia. Passengers added to the temporary watch list warrant a closer look by an airport customs officer trained in “counter terrorism response”, or CTR. They ask “passengers of interest” a list of required questions from a matrix. Highly suspicious passengers are subjected to additional interviews and searches and may be taken into custody.
A copy of the matrix of questions obtained by World Net Daily contains more than 30 questions cross-referenced with more than a dozen security categories involving passport issues and travel patterns, among other concerns. Question No 2 reads, “Did you travel to Pakistan? If so, what cities did you visit.”
Questions 5 and 6 deal with “military training” and “school training”. Others drill down on specifics regarding such training.
DHS has put its temporary lookout system and “augmented primary” interviewing process into operation at major international airports, including Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Newark, New Jersey, Boston, New York, Miami and Los Angeles.
DHS first responded in 2004 to intelligence that Pakistani-Americans were training at terror camps during trips to Pakistan by requiring customs officers to check young Pakistani male travellers for physical signs of military training.
They were asked to look for “rope burns”, “unusual bruises” and “scars” – injuries that might have resulted from training at obstacle courses, or handling firearms and explosives.
“Many of the individuals trained in the Pakistani camps are destined to commit illegal activities in the United States,” warned the two-page DHS advisory that launched the special action, according to the report.