Blacklisted from the skies

US citizens demand answers from the government about their ban from air travel.

A No Fly List created by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) prohibits some 20,000 people from all flights in or out of the United States. Most of them are unaware of why they've been placed on the list and have no practical means of appeal or confirmation that their names are even included.

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of 15 U.S. citizens and legal residents is an attempt to shed light on the secretive process.

In this episode of the Stream, we speak to Abe Mashal, a plaintiff in the case; Martin Reardon, former Director of the FBI Terrorist Screening Center; and Chris Calabrese (@CRCalabrese), Legislative Counsel for the ACLU.

What do you think? What's behind the secrecy surrounding the No Fly List? Is it an appropriate line of defense by the US government? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.

View the story "Blacklisted from the skies" on StorifyBlacklisted from the skiesUS citizens demand answers from the government about their ban from air travel.Storified by The Stream · Wed, Jun 06 2012 13:07:20The ACLU lawsuit, commonly known as Latif v. Holder, was filed in 2010; the number of plaintiffs has grown to include fifteen citizens and legal residents. Some, such as Ayman Latif, whose US passport photo can be seen below, have been left stranded in foreign countries as a result of being on the No Fly List.ACLUAJstreamThis ACLU video shows Latif and others sharing their experiences as a result of being placed on the No Fly List.NO FLY WITH MEacluvideosAs a result of such stories, even those who do not disagree with the list itself have raised questions about its implementation.@AJStream @ACLU The list is not unconstitutional a country has the right to stop people entering it, but this power can and has been abused.Daniel Goldberg Kip Hawley, the Former administrator of the Transport Security Administration (TSA), wrote a book titled Permanent Emergency, which talks about the problems with the TSA's approach to fighting terrorism.kiphawley.comAJstreamStill, in May 2011, a US court dismissed the ACLU case as it ruled it did not have jurisdiction over the matter. The ACLU appealed the decision and a hearing, which can be heard here, took place in May 2012. The US government says the list is necessary and a security measure to prevent terrorism. The No Fly List is compiled by the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), which is an organisation within the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Stream spoke with the TSC regarding the Terrorist Screening Database (TDSB):Terrorist Screening CenterAJstreamBelow, the answer to a Frequently Asked Question on the TSC website also indicates how difficult it is for those on the list to clear their names.undefinedStaticflickrThe TSC admits that it has made hundreds of removals or corrections from the TSDB.undefinedStaticflickrThere have been examples of people erroneously being placed on the list. In 2004, the late US Senator Edward Kennedy was stopped from boarding flights on several occasions, and former South African President and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela was also on the list until 2008.EPAAJstream@AJStream If #Mandela, Kennedy on no-fly list, how many others w/ 0 connection to criminality of any sort are? Is it even reviewed by humansTom RizzoThis cartoon, courtesy of the blog TOTUS Cartoons and Commentary, pokes fun at the No Fly List's proclivity to include high-profile politicians. obama-no-fly-list1AJstreamThe list has been criticised for its focus on Muslims, and all 15 of the plaintiffs in the ACLU case are Muslim. Earlier this month, an 18-month-old toddler of Middle Eastern descent was pulled from a flight after her parents were told she was on the No Fly List. @AJStream I would comment on the no-fly list but then I would get put on it. If I'm not on it already.ﻣﺴﻠﻢ ﺳﻜﻴﻄﺮundefinedStaticflickrHigh-profile Muslims from other countries, such as Indian superstar Shahrukh Khan, have also appeared on the No Fly List. Despite his worldwide popularity, Khan has twice been detained upon arriving in the US, causing great outrage within the Indian American community and in India. Khan can be seen below discussing his latest incident in April, when he travelled to the US to give a speech at Yale University.Shah Rukh detained at New York airport.mp4venkatramshrinivas

Content on this website is for general information purposes only. Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community Rules & Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.

FOLLOW THE STREAM

Main menu

The Stream

Blacklisted from the skies

Blacklisted from the skies

FOLLOW THE STREAM

Watch the Stream Live: