When I fly on a plane, I get searched extra by the Feds, how do I get off their Terrorist list?

Question

When I was a Kid I was a Hippie rebel and protested a lot. My ex-wife alleged I was a terrorist to get at me during our divorce. Now it seems I am on the feds watch list because when I fly, they always give me lots of extra screening that nobody else seems to get. I called the TSA and got no response. Now I find out that if you are on thier list, a prospective employer will find out if the job is government or defense related. HOW DO I GET OFF THE LIST? I am not a terrorist, just an aging hippie.

Answer 1

You have to submit in writing a request to be removed from the list. Every airline has a copy of the form that should tell you how to contact the TSA. You can go to the TSA website, and down at the bottom, click on Contact US, then there is a drop down menu and select No Fly/Selectee List.

Another way to skirt around it is to book your reservations using your middle name instead of your first name. It's still your legal name. The watch list generally matches up your first and last name with your birthday. You can usually get around it by using your middle name instead. BUT it could be that YOU arent the one at all that is on the watch list. If you were, then you would be detained at the counter, many people have the same name, the only difference is a birthday, if that matches the watch list, then they go by characteristics, like eye and hair color. If you dont match the system, you are cleared for travel. Obviously you have flown, so you arent the one on the watch list. Many people get angry and think it is them personally, but I hate to tell you it really has nothing to do with you. There are just more than one person with your name that are on the list and have a warrant or papers filed somewhere in the US that states they could be a flight risk or are infact someone of interest.

So, dont take it personally, most domestic disputes have nothing to do with the list. Just book a different way. If you have a milage program, submit a name change or start a new account and go through the hassel of transferring miles. It can be done, just a pain in the butt.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Answer 2

How often do you get the special search? If you only flew 5 times in a year, and got searched 4 times, you're probably not on any list. You have to fly very often (like 50 times a year) and then get searched every time in order to really say you're on some list.
A better indication would be how you're treated when you travel internationally. If you don't travel internationally, you're not much of a terrorist.

Answer 3

It doesn't really matter what you look like. The TSA pulls people at random, and sometimes an airline will pull anybody who has a gate pass (instead of a boarding ticket).

My son is 22, 6'4, clean cut, short hair and athletic, unassuming kind of guy... he gets screened just because he likes to wear black, I think.
ATA airlines used to pull me out of line regularly when I'd get a gate pass to take my 84 year old mom to the airport and get her safely to the gate, and I don't fit anybody's idea of profiling, either.

My son and I found the best way to handle the TSA extra screening is shrug our shoulders, laugh about it and be nonchalant. Takes less time that way and I don't get an ulcer about it.

Frankly, I don't care if it takes a bit of extra time and it's me they tag for extra screening. I'm just glad it's not like in Israel where EVERYBODY and all their luggage and carryons are completely emptied before you can board a plane. And I'm glad we have security measures 'cause I don't want another 9/11.

Answer 4

He replaced into truthfully a terrorist. something unusual with an plane will reason some worry interior the u . s . as a results of fact of 9/11. This replaced right into a planned act of anger, vengeance and it scared anybody in that construction. i've got not heard what his faith replaced into, possibly as a results of fact it replaced into no longer an argument. regrettably for Muslims, there have been many Muslims who used their perception as an excuse for their acts of terror. often those Muslims elevate Islam and get in touch with out to Allah on their own, so it is appropriate. yet i do no longer think of anybody interior the media has falsely mentioned a guy or woman's faith purely to reason situation, as you seem doing. EDIT - I purely stumbled on an editorial that mentioned this: "He railed against politicians, the Catholic Church, the "unthinkable atrocities" devoted by potential of huge organisation, and the government bailouts that observed. He mentioned he slowly got here to the tip that "violence no longer purely is the respond, it relatively is the only answer." it relatively is clean he could desire to no longer have been a Christian. Jesus did no longer pontificate "violence is the only answer".

Answer 5

My suggestion to you is to grow up. The hippie age is over. Cut your hair and try to look civilized. If you look like scum they will search you more because you will fall under the special screening categories. I doubt if your wife turned you in as a terrorist. That stuff comes from government intelligence, not ex-spouses.

If you were arrested numerous times for being anti-government, then you are on the list and you put yourself on that list. It sounds to me like those years of drug abuse have turned you a little paranoid. Maybe they look at you and just assume you are carrying illegal drugs and that's what they are looking for.