In the wake of the failed bombing attempt of a US plane on Christmas day, authorities raised security restrictions to levels not seen since the “shoe bomber” attacks of 2006 – full body patdowns were in effect, passengers had every piece of luggage checked, and movement was even limited during the last hour of flight, just to name a few of the many restrictions. After much backlash, the Transportation Security Administration has released new guidelines that specifies when such stringent security measures are required.
In effect, the United States has imposed separate security measures for different people, depending on what country the person is flying from. This is great news if you’re an American or one of it’s allies – you won’t be faced with such asinine security requirements each time you pass through the metal detectors. However, if you’re flying from Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen, be prepared to face increased scrutiny for the indefinite future.
If you’re flying from one of these restricted countries, you can expect to at the very least receive a full body pat-down and to have your luggage fully searched. In countries with more advanced screening system, expect a full body scan as well. While they’re designed to find small hidden traces of explosives and weapons, guess what else they can see?
Of course, the new regulations are not without their opponents. Many are calling this an assault on civil rights, an official version of racial profiling. When Monday comes around, we can expect civil rights groups across the nation to begin filing formal protests.
