ACLU sues TSA over passenger "no-fly" list

Apr 15, 2004 1:03 PM

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Transportation Security Administration on behalf of David Nelson and others named in a list of people that the government deems too dangerous to board commercial flights. Nelson -- a 34-year-old attorney from Illinois -- is among seven people whom the ACLU brought together in the lawsuit. Nelson says the government treats him as if he's a threat to commercial aviation who shouldn't be allowed on a plane. Nelson says he's been delayed at airports dozens of times as government officials questioned him. Please see AC&SS editor Larry Anderson's note from the July 2003 issue on Nelson, (securitysolutions.com/mag/security_rounding_usual_suspects/index.html (http://securitysolutions.com/mag/security_rounding_usual_suspects/index.html )). Others suing include a retired minister, a college student, an Air Force master sergeant, a human rights activist and two ACLU employees. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, claims the "no-fly list" violates airline passengers' constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and their right to due process. The civil rights group says the government has not put enough safeguards in place to ensure people with similar names aren't treated with suspicion. The TSA administers two lists: "no-fly" and "selectee." Those on the "no-fly list" are not allowed to board a commercial aircraft. Those on the "selectee list" must go through more extensive screening before boarding.

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