DHS: Secretary Napolitano Announces New Measures to Strengthen Aviation Security

 This month, foreign nationals traveling to the United States will begin to see changes in airport security screening procedures, as the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration implements new screening policies that will focus less on a traveler's country of citizenship and more on intelligence data that flags security risks. In particular, foreign nationals from 14 countries of concern should no longer be automatically subject to heightened screening because of their nationality alone. The new policies were announced on April 2, 2010 by the Department of Homeland Security.

Airport security personnel will use security databases and watch lists in combination with intelligence about specific terrorism suspects, their physical descriptions and travel patterns to identify travelers for increased scrutiny. Foreign nationals whose traits and travel histories are similar to intelligence data could be selected for additional airport screening. The new procedures replace an emergency measure implemented in January that required automatic additional screening for citizens and nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

When traveling to the United States from abroad, foreign nationals should still expect strict screening and delays at airports, including close questioning, random searches, and other measures, and could still be subject to secondary screening if their information matches data from intelligence reports or watch lists. However, having a certain nationality or holding a passport from one of the 14 countries of concern should not, by itself, trigger additional screening.

DHS announcement is available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1270217971441.shtm

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