If you have been mistreated at the TSA checkpoint, it can be difficult to share what happened with strangers, especially to describe things to the level of detail that an official investigation will require.
However, the quicker you can act, the better:
- It is best to request security video footage from the airport within 30 days. Here is an explanation of how to acquire security video through FOIA.
- Complaints filed directly to the TSA must be filed within 180 days of the incident. Click here to be taken to the TSA.gov site to file a complaint
- Claims for damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act must be made within 2 years of the incident. (This is not legal advice, I am not a lawyer, you should contact a lawyer if you are interested in legal action.)
If too much time has passed, there are still things you can do. First, forgive yourself for not doing something sooner. Abuse can be a traumatic experience and difficult to share.
- File a Civil Rights and Civil Liberties complaint with the Department of Homeland Security. Click here to be taken to the dhs.gov site to file a complaint.
- Write to the Secretary of Homeland Security, currently Alejandro Mayorkas. The only official way to contact him is through old-fashioned physical mail:
- The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas
- Secretary of Homeland Security
- Washington, DC 20528
- Contact your representative or senator in Congress: Find your representatives at Congress.gov, especially if they are on the Committee on Homeland Security/Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee (see the list of members at the house.gov site)
- Contact the ACLU, especially if you suspect you were being racially profiled or otherwise targeted on the basis of race, religion, dress, gender expression, etc. You will need to contact your local affiliate, which you can find here on the ACLU site.
End the TSA 