Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Watchdog probes alleged ‘profiling’ of Somalis at Minneapolis TSA office

By Reuters 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. Homeland Security Department watchdog unit is investigating alleged “profiling” of Somali-Americans by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in Minneapolis, the agency said in a statement on Thursday.

The inquiry involves allegations that a TSA supervisor in Minneapolis, home to a large Somali-American population, told a subordinate to run the names of Somali-American visitors to a local agency office through counter-terrorism databases.

Advertisement

The TSA operates airline security checkpoints and is a part of Homeland Security, a sprawling U.S. cabinet department. Homeland Security’s inspector general said it was investigating possible “profiling” by TSA after a TSA employee alleged his supervisor advised him “to treat members of the Somali community differently from others who visit the Minneapolis TSA office.”

A spokeswoman for the Inspector General’s Office said that the probe began after a TSA manager in Minneapolis told a U.S. House of Representatives panel that his supervisor had advised him to check the names of Somali visitors to TSA’s local office with an intelligence officer before allowing them to visit.

The New York Times reported that the supervisor, David McMahon, wrote a mid-year performance evaluation in which he affirmed that he had advised subordinate Andrew Rhoades to check out the potential visitors in order to determine “if we want them in our office space or meet elsewhere.”

The newspaper said that McMahon had also written that he had “reminded employee that with our current world affairs that we need to be mindful of those we interact with.”

The spokeswoman for the Inspector General said its office had opened its investigation on Monday and that it was likely to last three to six months.

A spokesperson for TSA said: “The Transportation Security Administration does not racially profile, nor does it tolerate profiling by employees. TSA welcomes the Office of Inspector General’s investigation and will cooperate fully, but cannot comment until the investigation is complete.”

Minneapolis has a large Somali-American community, which U.S. spy and law enforcement agencies for years have monitored as a small but steady flow of young men who have traveled overseas to join, and in some cases, fight with militant groups including Islamic State and Somalia-based Al Shabaab.

(This version of the story corrects headline to say TSA office, not airport)

(Reporting By Mark Hosenball; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh, Bernard Orr)

Advertisement - Continue reading below

Uber deal shows divide in labor’s drive for role in ‘gig economy’
Business
Reuters 5 min read

Uber deal shows divide in labor’s drive for role in ‘gig economy’

Politician Played a Role in One of the Worst Prison Riots in History
Trending
David Clarke 3 min read

Politician Played a Role in One of the Worst Prison Riots in History

Average Travel Cost Statistics For 2023 According To Forbes Advisor
Travel
Ethan Blake 6 min read

Average Travel Cost Statistics For 2023 According To Forbes Advisor

-Natural Cleaning Products

This Founder Transformed Her Wedding Tips into All-Natural Cleaning Products
Lifestyle
Ethan Blake 4 min read

-Natural Cleaning Products This Founder Transformed Her Wedding Tips into All-Natural Cleaning Products

Pakistan mourns murdered singer in attack claimed by Taliban
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Pakistan mourns murdered singer in attack claimed by Taliban

Starbucks to serve stevia-based sweetener in select cafes
News
Reuters 1 min read

Starbucks to serve stevia-based sweetener in select cafes

Navajo Nation sues EPA over metal sludge from Colorado mine spill
News
Reuters 2 min read

Navajo Nation sues EPA over metal sludge from Colorado mine spill

Tom Hanks explores the drama and trauma of being a hero in ‘Sully’
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Tom Hanks explores the drama and trauma of being a hero in ‘Sully’

Turing accused of retaliation after executive’s sexual assault complaint
News
Reuters 2 min read

Turing accused of retaliation after executive’s sexual assault complaint

Florida says four new locally transmitted Zika cases, Congress must act on funds
News
Reuters 1 min read

Florida says four new locally transmitted Zika cases, Congress must act on funds

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers