Post by Souriquois on May 10, 2018 13:13:46 GMT -4
Bains says U.S. security agents asked him to remove turban, prompting followup with officials
Innovation minister said treatment was how it might play out for people without a diplomatic passport
A federal cabinet minister says he was subject to a zealous security check at a U.S. airport last year, prompting Justin Trudeau's government to follow up with the Trump administration.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains said he was flying through the Detroit Metro Airport on his way back to Toronto with his Canadian passport following an economic summit with the Michigan governor back in April 2017.
Bains told the French-language newspaper La Presse that he had already passed through the airport's regular security checks, including a metal detector, when he was asked to do further tests.
He said the agent struggled with the swab test, read a false positive and then asked him to remove his turban.
Bains said he tried to stay calm and asked the agent if there was another option. In the Sikh religion, the turban is a mandatory piece of clothing.
"I will never be asked to take off my clothes. It's the same thing. It's a piece of linen," he said.
Another request to remove turban
He said the agent agreed to perform another test, which he passed, and he was allowed to continue to his boarding gate.
But then he alleges a security agent tracked him down at his gate, 20 minutes before takeoff, and said protocol hadn't been followed and he'd have to go back to security and remove his turban.
That's when Bains said he flashed his diplomatic passport, and the agent backed off.
"Once the agents realized my identity, they said they made calls and that everything was OK, that I could leave," he told La Presse.
"I'm about to embark and you tell me to take off my turban. But, by knowing my diplomatic status, you tell me that everything is correct? This is not a satisfactory answer. "
Complaints to U.S. agencies
Bains said when he travels he doesn't like to reveal his cabinet position because he wants to see how things play out for people who aren't ministers or lawmakers.
He said the experience was awkward and described the security agents as "very insistent and very difficult."
Bain's office said Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland reached out to the U.S. and the homeland security and transportation department undersecretaries apologized verbally.
In a statement to CBC, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration said it reviewed closed-circuit video and determined the officer didn't follow standard operating procedures and received additional training.
"We regret the screening experience did not meet the expectations of Mr. Bains," said Michael McCarthy.
"All persons wearing head coverings may be subject to additional security screening, which may include an officer-conducted or self-conducted pat-down. TSA does this to ensure that prohibited items or weapons are not concealed beneath any type of clothing and brought onto an aircraft. This policy covers all headwear and is not directed at any one particular item or group."
"When possible, passengers may remove non-formfitting headwear before proceeding through the security checkpoint. We recognize that passengers may be unable or unwilling to remove items for religious, medical, or other reasons, and should expect to undergo additional screening protocols."
Innovation minister said treatment was how it might play out for people without a diplomatic passport
A federal cabinet minister says he was subject to a zealous security check at a U.S. airport last year, prompting Justin Trudeau's government to follow up with the Trump administration.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains said he was flying through the Detroit Metro Airport on his way back to Toronto with his Canadian passport following an economic summit with the Michigan governor back in April 2017.
Bains told the French-language newspaper La Presse that he had already passed through the airport's regular security checks, including a metal detector, when he was asked to do further tests.
He said the agent struggled with the swab test, read a false positive and then asked him to remove his turban.
Bains said he tried to stay calm and asked the agent if there was another option. In the Sikh religion, the turban is a mandatory piece of clothing.
"I will never be asked to take off my clothes. It's the same thing. It's a piece of linen," he said.
Another request to remove turban
He said the agent agreed to perform another test, which he passed, and he was allowed to continue to his boarding gate.
But then he alleges a security agent tracked him down at his gate, 20 minutes before takeoff, and said protocol hadn't been followed and he'd have to go back to security and remove his turban.
That's when Bains said he flashed his diplomatic passport, and the agent backed off.
"Once the agents realized my identity, they said they made calls and that everything was OK, that I could leave," he told La Presse.
"I'm about to embark and you tell me to take off my turban. But, by knowing my diplomatic status, you tell me that everything is correct? This is not a satisfactory answer. "
Complaints to U.S. agencies
Bains said when he travels he doesn't like to reveal his cabinet position because he wants to see how things play out for people who aren't ministers or lawmakers.
He said the experience was awkward and described the security agents as "very insistent and very difficult."
Bain's office said Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland reached out to the U.S. and the homeland security and transportation department undersecretaries apologized verbally.
In a statement to CBC, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration said it reviewed closed-circuit video and determined the officer didn't follow standard operating procedures and received additional training.
"We regret the screening experience did not meet the expectations of Mr. Bains," said Michael McCarthy.
"All persons wearing head coverings may be subject to additional security screening, which may include an officer-conducted or self-conducted pat-down. TSA does this to ensure that prohibited items or weapons are not concealed beneath any type of clothing and brought onto an aircraft. This policy covers all headwear and is not directed at any one particular item or group."
"When possible, passengers may remove non-formfitting headwear before proceeding through the security checkpoint. We recognize that passengers may be unable or unwilling to remove items for religious, medical, or other reasons, and should expect to undergo additional screening protocols."
LOL he is a high-level government official and was traveling with a diplomatic passport.