Need help with interpretation

texster68 · 01-12-2007, 11:00 PM

I've posted several times about my long miserable story of being flagged by Homeland Security as a terrorist and being denied re-entry to the US after traveling abroad(I finally made it in after meeting with a string of customs agents and TSA officials at the airport).

There is no direct contact point or a person to talk to about these kinds of issues, so I have been "putting messages in bottles and throwing them into the ocean". I've sent fax's to multiple phone numbers listed on government web pages, emailed to any address on various Homeland Security web sites, written, faxed, emailed my Congressman and Senator, filled out endless web page questionaires, etc.

All the bottles floating in the ocean finally produced results. I got the following letter from Transportation Security Administration, but I'm not sure what it says. Anyone skilled in interpreting government double-talk, I'd like your opinion of what this says. Here is the text of the letter

Dear Mr. Allen,

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has received your Traveler Identity Verification Form/Passenger Identity Verification Form and identity documentation.

In response to your request, we have conducted a review of any applicable records in consultation with other Federal agencies, as appropriate. Where it has been determined that a correction to records is warranted, these records have been modified to address any delay or denial of boarding that you may have experienced as a result of the watch list screening process.

This letter constitutes TSA's final agency decision, which is reviewable by the United States Court of appeals under 49 U.S.C. 46110. If you have further questions, write to the following address:

TSA-901
601 South 12th Street
Arlington VA 22202

Sincerely,
James G. Kennedy Jr.
Director

I think this letter says that someone looked at my file and may or may not have talked to anyone else. If they found anything incorrect in the file, they may have updated it, but can't tell me about it. No apology or admission of making a mistake. Good luck on your next flight....you may or may not be detained. Stop bugging us.

All I want to know is whether or not I am a terrorist in official government files. Anyone fluent in governmentese? Help would be appreciated.

Texster68

WearyEagle · 01-13-2007, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texster68

I've posted several times about my long miserable story of being flagged by Homeland Security as a terrorist and being denied re-entry to the US after traveling abroad(I finally made it in after meeting with a string of customs agents and TSA officials at the airport).

There is no direct contact point or a person to talk to about these kinds of issues, so I have been "putting messages in bottles and throwing them into the ocean". I've sent fax's to multiple phone numbers listed on government web pages, emailed to any address on various Homeland Security web sites, written, faxed, emailed my Congressman and Senator, filled out endless web page questionaires, etc.

All the bottles floating in the ocean finally produced results. I got the following letter from Transportation Security Administration, but I'm not sure what it says. Anyone skilled in interpreting government double-talk, I'd like your opinion of what this says. Here is the text of the letter

Dear Mr. Allen,

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has received your Traveler Identity Verification Form/Passenger Identity Verification Form and identity documentation.

In response to your request, we have conducted a review of any applicable records in consultation with other Federal agencies, as appropriate. Where it has been determined that a correction to records is warranted, these records have been modified to address any delay or denial of boarding that you may have experienced as a result of the watch list screening process.

This letter constitutes TSA's final agency decision, which is reviewable by the United States Court of appeals under 49 U.S.C. 46110. If you have further questions, write to the following address:

TSA-901
601 South 12th Street
Arlington VA 22202

Sincerely,
James G. Kennedy Jr.
Director

I think this letter says that someone looked at my file and may or may not have talked to anyone else. If they found anything incorrect in the file, they may have updated it, but can't tell me about it. No apology or admission of making a mistake. Good luck on your next flight....you may or may not be detained. Stop bugging us.

All I want to know is whether or not I am a terrorist in official government files. Anyone fluent in governmentese? Help would be appreciated.

Texster68

"it has been determined that a correction to records has been warranted", Constitutes an admission of error to me. Governments don't apologize.

hdflstf · 01-13-2007, 12:44 AM

Sounds like your tax dollars at work. I wish I could get away with crap like that.

blueeyes · 01-13-2007, 08:41 AM

Don't forget the "where" in that line - when you read the sentence, insert "if" in place of the "where". There is no admission here - "if we made a mistake, we fixed it" but clearly we admit to nothing. (I work for the guvmint, and I'm here to help you!)

wildcat66 · 01-13-2007, 09:16 AM

Gee man what have you been doing to make them think you are a terrorist.??

RUN ROD RUN · 01-13-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WearyEagle

"it has been determined that a correction to records has been warranted", Constitutes an admission of error to me. Governments don't apologize.

Keep in mind it takes months, if not years to correct any records. (and tons of BS paperwork too)

texster68 · 01-13-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcat66

Gee man what have you been doing to make them think you are a terrorist.??

The only thing I can think of is that I didn't have the foresight to not be born on 9/11. Coming in from Canada last year, I was stopped by a half-witted Canadian border agent when crossing into the US late at night. Based on the birthday on my passport the agent searched my rent car and luggage. Maybe he flagged me. I have no idea.

Texster68

WOW_FCTR · 01-15-2007, 08:21 AM

After reading this ACLU article, I'm surprised that you even got a letter that states they may or may not do something!
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general...s20061006.html

From further reading, I can deduce that your name won't be removed from the list. You may be added to a clearance list which would help you get through check-in faster, but not as a 'normal' person would.

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This watch list is a threat to all citizens, as you will have no way to know why your name is on the list (something you did, something someone else with the same name did, or an error) and therefore there is no way to remove any name.

Here is a website that shows why this isn't just a travel issue either and gives some other information:
http://terrorwatchlist.org/

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I hope that things get better for you........but from what I've read......

blueeyes · 01-15-2007, 01:17 PM

if your name is still on the list: Book a one-way flight to Damascus and see if you get to the gate without a strip search!

ZsSSR · 01-15-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueeyes

if your name is still on the list: Book a one-way flight to Damascus and see if you get to the gate without a strip search!

Actually just book a one-way flight to anywhere and don't check luggage and they will subject you to all kinds of extra screening/searches. To make it even more certain, book the flight within a few hours of take off. I have been through this many times...(last minute flights to Vegas, etc..) Seems to be the price for flying one way on one airline and back on a different one to get a cheaper overall round-trip.