Thread by @LeilaFadel

Good afternoon! Waiting @DFWAirport as the @TSA fills out their paperwork on me and what I look like. My build is the same as it was three days ago as are my shoes. But today my jacket is a blue jean. A thread below on what’s been happening.

This started in 2018 after a girls trip to #Tulum. I was pulled out of line by @cbp. My bags were searched, I was asked if I support terrorist organizations and I was asked for the names, numbers and addresses of my family members and in-laws. I was asked other things as well.

Then I got the “ssss” on every domestic boarding pass for several trips. I was flagged for secondary screening and it was not random. I applied for redress through @DHSgov and got some form letter that didn’t say much and it had a Redress Control Number.

I add that # to every travel booking. On most return trips from outside the U.S. plain clothes @DHSgov officers wait for me on the jet bridge. They check passports until they find me! That didn’t happen after returning from Tokyo but i did get extra screening and the “ssss.”

In 2018 I was advised to apply for Global Entry to ease the unnerving travel situation. I was approved. I went to a friend’s wedding in Italy and did some tourism in other countries. When I returned @DHSgov was waiting at the plane for me. A day later my global entry was revoked.

This stuff has also been happening to family members. My niece, now 15, was getting flagged at two years old. My nephew consistently flagged until he was about eleven. Now as a college kid he also gets flagged as does his brother and my sister.

I put in freedom of information requests for myself from @cbp and @DHSgov but there are huge exceptions over national security. I got nothing that provided any information about what list I’m on or why. Everything is opaque. It makes travel uncomfortable.

Especially at border entry points where our rights are limited. Even though I know I do nothing wrong, the treatment makes you feel angry and defensive. How many times do I have to answer the same qs? The only things that’s changed in 4 years is my hair, my weight and my age.

The most difficult part is you are basically told you don’t get to know why you are being treated this way, what they’re looking for and why you’re on some watchlist with @CBP @DHSgov and @TSA. For people with names like mine, backgrounds like mine this happens a lot.

Ok. Boarding my flight home now after a family visit. Got two thorough pat downs, a search of my things and my hands and belongings were tested for chemicals. I never wear face cream or sunscreen on travel days in case the chemicals set off the alarms.

I should add this largely stopped domestically for the last couple years but not internationally. I guess my trip to Tokyo to cover the Olympics for @npr triggered a new round of secondary screening for my domestic trips. Hopefully it’ll stop soon.