Bipartisan legislation that aims to ensure that travelers have the appropriate recompense when having to face difficulties at transportation hubs or U.S. borders unanimously advanced the U.S. House of Representatives this week.
The Traveler Redress Improvement Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), seeks to expand the legislative protections under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Traveler Redress Inquiry Program.
The DHS program attempts to assist travelers who feel that they are repeatedly selected for enhanced screening. This effort, however, only offers redress for individuals placed on the “No Fly List,” offering no coverage for individuals who feel that they have been unfairly subjected to enhanced screenings. This then leaves those travelers open to perpetual enhanced screening selection with no way to correct the record by the individual.
“Unfortunately, erroneous information in the Terrorist Screening Database can sometimes lead to mistakenly identifying individuals as threats,” Katko said. “This means innocent travelers may be targeted by the U.S. government – without being provided an explanation or opportunity to make amends. This measure establishes a formal mechanism to handle these cases within the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that individuals can travel safely and hassle-free.”