While most Saudi students are apparently taking the TSA’s revised security screening in stride, not all of them are. Saudi Gazette/Okaz report that some are very offended and that the National Society of Human Rights thinks them offensive to the dignity of Saudis.
I’ll just note a couple of points about the complaint made by the first Saudi covered here. First, being asked about membership in terrorist organizations is a legal ploy. If one says that he is not a member while actually being a member, he has committed a prosecutable crime. No further criminal action is necessary to effect an arrest. The police don’t need to wait to catch him with bomb materials or plotting an attack: they have him for perjury on a sworn statement. (American style diva Martha Stewart found herself in prison for ostensibly lying to investigators, so it’s not a toothless tactic.)
The second point is that anyone entering the US—of American or other nationality—can have his computer files checked. It’s not just terroristic materials that are the subject of searches; Child porn and other illicit materials are frequently caught. US courts have determined that the 4th Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches without probable cause, does not extend beyond the borders of the US. For travelers, the border starts inside the Immigration and Customs desks.
As for the NSHR, well… I do believe there are human rights violations taking place within the Kingdom which might more usefully take the focus of the organization.
USA airport security checks ‘humiliating’ for Saudis: NSHR
Siham Al-ZunaidiMICHIGAN/RIYADH – “Do you have any relationship with terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and the Mujahideen Army?”
This is one of the many questions that United States investigators ask Saudi students when they arrive in the country. Many students have complained that this type of treatment infringes on their dignity.
Now the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR) in the Kingdom has also slammed the measures as an infringement on the dignity and rights of Saudis, under international law.
Fahd Al-Jabr, a political science and international relations student, said he was subjected to a complicated body search at Detroit Airport recently.
Al-Jabr, who has stayed in the US for four years without incident said: “I was interrogated by five investigators – three civilians and two military personnel. They asked provocative questions including a question about whether I had a relationship with terrorist organizations. The most difficult was the body search, which was humiliating and inhumane.”
Al-Jabr said that all his personal files on his laptop were copied by the investigators without his permission. He was astonished that neither the investigators nor the inspection staff apologized for their behavior.
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January:25:2010 - 12:03
[...] John Burgess: While most Saudi students are apparently taking the TSA’s revised security screening in stride, not all of them are. Saudi Gazette/Okaz report that some are very offended and that the National Society of Human Rights [NSHR] thinks them offensive to the dignity of Saudis. . . . [...]
January:25:2010 - 13:58
I thought the question was asked on the card that non-us citizens fill out on the plane. At least that was what I was told. Is this really new news then?
I do not work in security, so I am not expert, but why don’t TSA do more a thourough check on the passengers before they board the plane? Or, doesn’t the US Embassy make a thourough check before they get visa?
I believe they can be very effective, but with common sense though. A former roommate of mine ( with diplomatic EU passport) was asked if she had anything to do with the Nazi during WWII. She was born in 1977!!
January:25:2010 - 17:23
Embassies–which now include the Department of Homeland Security–do background checks, not thorough investigations. Not only would that take months, it’d annoy people incredibly. It’d be too expensive, as well. Might as well just close the door and refuse any admittance!
I had a friend, a female Peruvian diplomat, who had the honor of an internal exam before she could get into Israel off a European flight. So, not even background checks by people noted for their security stance are guarantees that the people at the gateway are confident in their accuracy.
Again, I’ll undergo the indignity of in-processing over the indignity of decorating a few square miles of landscape.
January:26:2010 - 04:09
Why is everyone desperate to study in the U.S ?
Can’t the Saudi government send students to other countries where they can be treated with respect, and common sense?
What is wrong with Canada, Australia, Japan, or Switzerland?
Don’t they all have very good schools that teach in English?
So why do we have more than 20,000 students in the U.S where they are all,through discrimination, being blamed for what happened on 9/11 ?
I think the scholarships to the U.S should be reduced significantly, or even stopped. It is better for both the U.S government,and the Saudi government too.
No hassle, nor blame for any potential risk as well.
January:26:2010 - 06:28
While I agree it’s unpleasant to undergo an extensive and lengthy interrogation those travelers know the rules in force and should expect slight trouble when they enter the US territory;
now I’m surprised that some people complain about body search (I mean not internal); that’s part of the game; I personally undergo it every time I take the plane, just because I’m handicapped; do I like it ? Not at all ? Do I expect it ? Yes of course as I’ll not change the rules by myself; so it’s not only Saudis, right ?
January:26:2010 - 08:45
Well, it’s a bit chauvinistic of me, but US universities, particularly in the sciences, have the top reputation. Yes, there are other top universities in other countries, but usually only one or two. They simply don’t have the capacity to take in hundreds, never mind thousands of Saudi students.
Then there’s the fact that the US and Saudi Arabia, despite all the friction, are closely allied countries. This is perhaps less so now than ten years ago, but it’s still the case.
January:26:2010 - 10:55
It is true that the US has more higher ranked universities and also just more universities of all ranks, and programs to choose from. That is part of the attraction generally. Also all those Saudi/Aramco ties, historic and current, seem to affect choices about education and healthcare.
January:26:2010 - 13:57
It isn’t the checking that’s the problem. Is there any reason they can’t be polite when doing it? The US choose to issue VISA’s they should at least be polite if the person hasn’t done anything. And they should extend the VISA for the full time of studying and they should issue VISA’s to the mothers of these students so they can watch their children graduate.
And they should be polite to their own citizens of Arab descent and those that speand time in the Mid-East, and they shouldn’t bully children (under 18-US citizens) traveling alone from the ME to the states.
If they don’t want Saudi’s they shouldn’t have them come. No excuse for the way they treat US citizens at times.
These are the things we don’t like. It got better with the Obama administration, but this is what we all fear a return to.
January:26:2010 - 14:17
Sandy, you seem to be suffering under the misapprehension that government works in a fully-coordinated way! Alas, that’s not the case. Issuing visas is done by State Department. Accepting the visa is done by the Department of Homeland Security, specifically, the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). They have overlapping, but different mandates. State focuses on the laws that govern who qualifies for what sort of visa. ICE looks at other aspects, including security. Mostly, they agree; sometimes they don’t.
January:26:2010 - 14:25
Logically, I know that. But I’m still pissed about some of what happened to myself and others. And I hate to think it may all start again. Since they are so un-coordinated, no need to take it out on others by being rude bullies…-did I say I was still mad?
January:26:2010 - 14:30
Well, you could always apply for a job with TSA! Just be getting on staff, you’d lift the whole lot, no?
January:26:2010 - 15:00
LOL. No one would like me. Not TSA or the people coming in (I’m polite, but tough). I think my ego would get seriously damaged.
No, I’d best sit on the sidelines and be content with whining!
You know, play to my strengths!
January:26:2010 - 15:50
LOL, indeed! ‘Polite but tough’ is exactly what’s needed, isn’t it? Aren’t most of the complaints about the rudeness of the TSA agents?
Maybe I’ll apply for a job!
January:26:2010 - 22:32
John,
Yes, polite but tough is your strong point. You must get that job and then I’ll be making frequent trips to the US.
I think by now you know I am not a terrorist!
January:26:2010 - 23:45
So, Daisy… you’ve been weaving a clever ploy through all these comments… I’ll have to tip off the TSA guys to be on the lookout!
January:27:2010 - 01:51
John,
You’ll have to prove your suspicion to the TSA – you don’t have any comments from me on your blog in support of orthodox, fundamentalist, extremist Muslims! Nor have I been severely critical of the US! And you have seen my blog – I am not supporting any Jihadists from across the border there.
I think the US will do well to give ME a job in the counter-terrorism campaign – and then we’ll see what to do with high-profile ex-diplomats who keep on going to Saudi Arabia every year and seem to have a soft corner for Saudis!