DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program for Screening Problems

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a centralized traveler redress program intended to help individuals who have had problems during the travel screening process. The program, known as the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program, or “DHS TRIP,” provides a single point of contact for international travelers who wish to resolve problems encountered during travel screening.

Typical Reasons for Passengers to Delay Boarding a Flight

The traveler’s problems typically include situations in which authorities: (1) stop one from boarding an airline flight or delay their boarding; (2) deny or delay one’s entry to or exit from the United States at a border checkpoint; or (3) frequently pull a particular individual out of line for secondary screening. In many cases, these problems arise because an innocent traveler has the same name as a person on a federal watch list. If there is a “John Smith” on a federal anti-terrorism watch list, for instance, other people with that name may encounter difficulties every time they travel and may be subject to additional screening until authorities are satisfied that they are not the John Smith on the watch list.

How to Correct the Data

Travelers who believe they have faced unnecessary delays, security screenings, or denial of boarding may file inquiries with DHS TRIP to seek redress. In this, such individuals may request correction of the DHS database entry. To speed resolution of these inquiries, the DHS offers a web portal that allows travelers to submit the request form online, along with scanned copies of identity documents. Complaints may also be filed by mail.

DHS Will Modify Secure Flight Watch List

When the complaint is filed, the DHS will transmit it to the relevant agencies for investigation and resolution. The DHS has promised to use the results of the redress program inquiries to modify the secure flight watch list it maintains, “to help prevent future delays for misidentified passengers.” Those concerned about the privacy of information submitted to DHS TRIP can find additional information on the limited ways in which such information can be used for official government purposes on the DHS website.

Conclusion

This system can be helpful to travelers who have been wrongly identified as dangerous or of concern. If you would like legal assistance in submitting a DHS TRIP complaint, you may schedule a consultation with a Murthy Law Firm attorney.

While some aspects of immigration have changed in significant ways in the years since MurthyDotCom began publishing articles in 1994, there is much that is still the same. From time to time, clients of the Murthy Law Firm are referred to articles, like this one, which remains relevant and has been updated for our readers.

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